FOUR Conwy Councillors are calling for answers over paddling pools sites and have posed "the simple question"... "When will their be water in our pools?"

Conwy County Borough Council confirmed on Tuesday, July 11 that work on paddling pools in Craig y Don, Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr and Rhos on Sea is "progressing well" but there is still no opening date in sight. 

In a joint statement, Conwy Councillors Jo Nuttall, Anthony Bertola, Jacob Williams and Gareth Jones said: "The summer holidays start next week and it is clear from visits to each paddling pool in Rhos-on-Sea, Craig y Don, Pennaenmawr and Llanfairfechan by local councillors that they are still nowhere near ready.

"We have an awful feeling that our children are not going to be paddling and playing in those pools this summer.

"This is a double blow for the residents of Conwy, as these hugely popular free sources of summer fun will be denied to them, and it will also strike a real financial blow to our hard pressed local tourism businesses which employ so many Conwy residents.

"Despite being promised numerous times by Conwy Cabinet that work is progressing, there is still no opening date for these important local facilities.

"Please tell us Conwy - when will there be water in our paddling pools?"

Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) say they have placed the order for the specialist coating [to fix slippery surfaces] and delivery is "expected soon" and that they will remain "free to use" when open.

A spokesperson told the Pioneer yesterday: "Work on the paddling pools is progressing well, dealing with a number of structural issues, and ensuring we’ll have a quality base and finish once completed. We’ve placed the order for the specialist coating and delivery is expected soon, we’ve not been made aware of any issues.

"This is a major investment to secure the long term future of these much loved community assets, and we do appreciate the communities’ patience whilst we carry out this essential work.

"The local contractor has gone over and above and we’re very grateful to them for all their hard work.

"We’re committed to getting the work completed safely and the facilities open as soon as we can, and we’d like to reassure everyone that the paddling pools will continue to be free of charge when they reopen.”

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Despite asking the question, no date was given for when the paddling pools will open to the public. 

The local authority came under fire in April after saying it would not be re-opening the four pools as normal in May 2023 and for claiming the "only UK provider" was unable to carry out work [to apply a specialist anti-slip coating to surfaces] due to sudden ill health.

The council made the decision not to open its pools following a full safety audit of all sites. Some areas were deemed as "a high slip risk".

Public outcry and criticism from politicians – including Clwyd West MS Darren Millar who called on the council to “get its act together” – resulted in the authority hastily securing a new contractor.