WORK IS set to start on the closure of St George’s Paddling Pool in Kidderminster.
Kidderminster Town Council has announced the process will begin on February 2.
Among the planned works being undertaken will be the removal of the existing concrete paddling pool structure.
Following this, the area will be sympathetically restored to ensure it is sensitively integrated back into the wider landscape of St George’s Park.
A spokesperson for the authority said: “While some temporary disruption may be experienced during the works, the town council will make every effort to keep this to an absolute minimum and to complete the project as efficiently as possible.
“Kidderminster Town Council appreciates the patience and understanding of residents and visitors during this period and remains committed to maintaining and improving the town’s green spaces for the benefit of the community.”
They added further updates would be provided as the works progressed.
The pool had been closed since 2022 on health and safety grounds but at a full council meeting this time last year, the authority had said it was hoping to reopen the paddling pool in the summer of 2026.
But, in October, after it was deemed not financially viable to keep open, the decision to close the pool was made by Kidderminster Town Councillors.
Councillors agreed that refurbishing, upgrading and managing an outdoor paddling pool presented ‘significant challenges’ for the authority and that the project would not be the best value for money for residents.
Instead, councillors mooted an idea for a splashpad which could be introduced in its place in the future.
In September last year, the Save the St George’s Park Paddling Pool launched a campaign in a bid to find the £220,000 it was estimated to cost to return the paddling pool to its former glory and give it a future.
Among those in the group were stalwart councillor Fran Oborski MBE who said the pool was in an area of the town with high levels of deprivation and one where many families could not afford to take their children away on holiday.
