Wallingford outdoor pool and splash park – A letter

Released on July 20, 2020

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers wrote a letter to the Oxford Mail on the 20 July 2020 in reaction to their article on the 18 July looking at the decision not to reopen the outdoor pool and splash park over the summer

Dear Sir,

Following Saturday’s article in your paper, I wanted to get in touch to explain a bit more about the decision to keep the Wallingford pool and splash park closed this summer.

We’re aware that it is a very popular location and how important these facilities are, which made the decision even harder to make. We do understand residents’ frustration. I and my young children are regular users of the facility, so I completely understand how tough this is for many residents who are staying local due to the pandemic. However, I hope people understand that it was a decision that had public safety at its heart.

The decision was taken by GLL, which runs ‘Better’ leisure facilities on our behalf and was agreed by the council. The decision was based on many different factors, including our responsibility to help control the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government’s guidelines would require GLL to set up a Track and Trace system – this is not possible on the Splash Pad as it is an unmanned facility. We couldn’t control numbers using the pads and anyone who does develop Covid-19 symptoms would have no Track and Trace system to notify others who had used the pads that day.

The pads being unmanned also means that it could not be cleaned regularly enough to comply with the guidelines to keep the area covid-safe. There’s an extra risk that the cleaning products required to tackle the virus, which contain substances like bleach, would end up being washed into the river, causing significant risk to the environment and wildlife.

I understand the perception that because the pool and splash areas are outside that, that gives them an element of safety that some indoor facilities don’t have, however this is not enough to be able to guarantee users safety.

The water in the splash pads isn’t chemically treated so this heightens the risk to users and on hot days there would be no ability to control numbers or ensure social distancing is maintained. It would rely on visitors’ discretion, which – while most people will behave sensibly – cannot always be relied upon.

Up and down the country other leisure providers and councils are having to make similar decisions. GLL made this decision with public safety in mind, and as a council we agreed that it was the right one to take.

Ultimately, it is our duty to lookout for the wellbeing and safety of those in our district and to help control the virus.

Yours Faithfully,

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers

Cabinet member for community services

South Oxfordshire District Council