BOURNEMOUTH council is planning to remove the splash pool from the seafront at Alum Chine and replace it with four new beach huts.

I am all for progress but this seems to me to be a very retrograde step.

There has been a paddling pool at Alum Chine for decades and it has always been a very well used facility.

The replacement pool that was constructed along with the newer beach huts has been less successful due to its poor design that meant it was out of action for large amounts of time.

Nevertheless, it was still well used when it was open and missed when it was closed.

The expectations of what adults may wish to find at a seaside resort may have changed over the years, but toddlers have much simpler expectations.

A small pool, with plenty of water in which to splash, has always, and probably always will, fit the bill.

Simple really. What a terrible shame to remove it.

ANGELA HEASMAN Beaulieu Road, Alum Chine