City paddling pools to reopen for the rest of summer

Two outdoor water parks in a city will be open for the rest of the summer, the city council has said.

The paddling pool at Peterborough's Central Park opened on Tuesday, while the water park in Bretton will open on 18 July. Both sites will remain open until 30 August, except on for Mondays.

Last month Tony Forster, chair of the Friends of Central Park, echoed frustrations at the pool's closure during the May bank holiday and heatwave.

The pool's season previously ran from 1 May to 30 September, but was reduced to July and August after a series of problems and budget cuts.

The city council was forced to shut the paddling pool in Central Park in August 2023 after traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the water.

It was shut again in August 2024 because of a faulty pump.

Bretton Water Park, which is managed by Vivacity, has also experienced technical problems in recent years. In 2024, it closed just a week after reopening due to mechanical issues.

Councillor Zameer Ali, cabinet member for communities and public safety on Peterborough City Council, said: "We fully appreciate that our summers are becoming hotter and, with that in mind, we are looking at opening the splash parks earlier next year, where possible, so that more families and children can enjoy them for even longer."

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