THE fight is on to keep a popular Bournemouth splash park open.
Redhill splash park, just off Redhill Drive, will reopen this summer no matter what, ward councillors Stephen Bartlett and Jackie Edwards said.
But BCP Council has said it won’t be funding to keep the park open as part of its ruthless cost-cutting measures to balance the budget for the next four years.
Running each of the conurbation’s splash parks is no cheap job: costs of cleaning chemicals, staff and four daily checks of Redhill’s paddling pool over four months costs in excess of £40,000.
Both Cllrs Bartlett and Edwards are asking residents keen to keep the park open to write to the council and themselves.
Cllr Bartlett said the splash park has a host of benefits to residents, particularly for parents who cannot afford to get a bus down to the town centre for the beach.
He added: “We’re going to explore every single area to keep this open. It’s so loved by everybody and not just in my ward, but others who come down here to enjoy it in the summer.
“I want people to write into me asking for the council to reconsider their decision.”
Cllr Edwards added: “Residents love coming to the splash park. It’s perfect for the little ones who can’t always go in the sea because it’s too deep for them.
“You can take your family down here to the café, enjoy some food at a picnic, it all ties in with the splash park being here.”
Like all councillors for the next financial year, the two independents will be handed £4,000 each to put back into the community as part of ‘ward improvement fund’ - but this won’t cover the costs of the paddling pool.
They are both in the process of dreaming up ideas to keep the splash park open, including sponsorships and lobbying the council.
Bournemouth resident of more than 70 years Lynda Carr said it would be “disappointing” to see the splash park close.
She said: “It gets filled up in the summer and it’s a beehive for people to go to. I’ve used it, my children have used it and my grandchildren have used it.”
BCP Council’s now approved 2024/25 budget cut funding for all council-run paddling pools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to save £107,000.
This includes one in Hamworthy park, another in Bournemouth’s Littledown park, Christchurch Quomps and Redhill park.
The other parks all have interest from community groups, charities or town councils.
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