ALL three paddling pools in the district are expected to re-open at the May Spring Bank holiday as usual following the winter break.  This follows a concerted effort by Harrogate Borough Council to persuade the Health and Safety Executive that guidelines relating to the operation of small outdoor paddling pools were too restrictive.

 

The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed to the council's Chief Executive that although its guidance under Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools also applied to paddling pools "...it was clearly written for swimming pools and particular care needs to be taken in its application to paddling pools which are not attached to larger swimming facilities".

 

Although the council would argue that this was not 'clearly written', it does now mean that it has confirmation that costly filtration systems (approximately £220,000) need not be provided in paddling pools which are separate from swimming pools, such as those in municipal parks. 

 

Councillor Mike Gardner, Leader of the Council, welcomed the clarification from the Health and Safety Executive.  He said:  "Many councils up and down the country have been looking extremely carefully at the safety and risk elements in running their paddling pools in the light of both regulation and guidance from advisory bodies.  If we had not followed it as originally drafted, then we could have been liable in law if a child was infected by an air borne disease or suffered serious injury.  Although, as far as we know, no child has ever suffered serious injury and very few have caught an infection from a municipal paddling pool. 

 

The clarification we have received from the HSE will help us make sure that the children of children who once played in our pools can do so safe in the knowledge that their safety has always been paramount.  It is a shame that some councils have already closed their pools but others like us now have the steer needed to keep them open."

 

The Health and Safety Executive has been asked to confirm that it considers the council to have taken a responsible approach to managing any possible risks if it provides daily routines for cleaning and inspection; provision of signs governing use and carer responsibility; and provision of signs relating to unsafe situations and emergencies.

 

These issues have been covered by the council's revised risk assessment although it does identify that some staff supervision needs to be provided in the Valley Gardens - which is the council's busiest paddling pool - to be fully compliant with the requirement to provide supervision during times of "crowded conditions".

 

Yacov Lev from the Rivers and Lakes Swimming Association - a body set up to protect outdoor paddling and swimming facilities - has been watching Harrogate Council's case with interest and he urges other councils to seek their own clarification from the HSE.  He said:  "Harrogate Council is to be congratulated on its campaign to clear up this guidance.  Others could well take a leaf out of their book.  Too many facilities have already been lost because of these draconian guidelines."

 

A special meeting of the council's Cabinet has been arranged for Monday,