Harlow Council is pleased to announce that specialist repair works to the Town Park Paddling Pool were completed on Monday evening (9 August 2021). The specialist contractor’s advice is that the council needs to wait for the sealant between the concrete to fully dry before filling the pool and reopening it.
The pool is now going through the full recommissioning process and will reopen next week (week starting 16 August 2021).
The specific site of the repair works will remain fenced-off until the sealant is dry and overnight security is in place to ensure nothing is disturbed. Visits are being made every day to check the sealant.
Councillor Joel Charles, Deputy Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“Despite the best efforts of all involved, I am sorry to confirm that the original target date for reopening the paddling pool on Friday the 13th of August is now not possible. I know that families are eager to enjoy the paddling pool once again, but it cannot reopen until the sealant is fully dry. This is in accordance with the contractor’s advice and it takes between five and seven days for the sealant to cure and opening sooner would run the risk of leaving us back at square one. If we reopen the pool too soon, the situation could be worse with an extended closure in force and a higher repair bill. As I weighed up the options, I came to the conclusion with council officers that the only course of action would be to defer the opening for a few more days to avoid any further disruption.
“Next year, the maintenance and repair work will be carried out well in advance of the start of the summer opening period to prevent this type of delay from happening again. All future works will not start or be planned for completion four weeks out from the annual paddling pool reopening date, unless an urgent repair is required.
“I know that the delays to reopening the pool has caused frustration and disappointment for families. Although this will not make up for the fun families have lost out on while the pool has been closed, I have decided that the Town Park Paddling Pool will stay open this summer for a further two weeks, including weekends. The paddling pool will now close on the 14th of September rather than on the 31st of August.”