Petition launched for toddler pool

PARENTS upset at plans to remove a toddler pool from the revamped Carnival Pool have set up a petition to request its reinstatement.

Earlier this year, we revealed that the Carnival Pool site is to be demolished and rebuilt, incorporating a gym, Wokingham Library and a soft play area.

Under the plans, the toddler pool has been removed and replaced by a new pool that has a movable floor, so it can operate at different depths according to who is using the pool at the time.

But parents are unhappy with the proposals.

The person who set up the petition said: “Having a beach pool that is toddler and child friendly is very important. In its current form it’s friendly and engaging and through such a facility children develop water confidence and experience aqua sensory play.

“My 16 month old son and 12 year old nephew have a lot of fun playing together under the water jets and my son loves the slide.

“We live in a borough with 10,000 under fives and to not have a beach pool in the new plans is effectively excluding/ ignoring the needs of a large portion of our community from benefiting from the new facility.”

As we went to press, almost 500 people had signed the petition. If it reaches 1,500 it could be debated at a Wokingham Borough Council meeting.

Opposition councillors have leant their support to the campaign.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey said: “I think it is a disgrace that the current Carnival Pool is being rebuilt after such a short life span. It was built to replace Martin’s Pool, which had a wonderful paddling pool with fountains and it should be available for all.”

Cllr Andy Croy, who represents Labour, said: “The facilities we put in need to be accessible to everyone regardless of how mobile they are.”

However, Cllr Stuart Munro, executive member for regeneration for Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Whilst there is no longer a separate splash area in the plans, there would still be lots of opportunity for toddlers and young children to enjoy the pool.

“We’re proposing to use the space to create a larger teaching pool with a moveable floor which could be made shallow enough for much bigger toddler sessions or made deep enough to teach different ages to swim. The moveable floor also means it could be used to run classes such as Aquafit whilst leaving the main pool free for open swimming.”

You can see the petition at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ carnival-pool-to-keep-its-beach-pool