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| The Paddling Pool |
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In 1978 the younger Children's Paddling Pool was added to the park, next to the Lido. This we were later to discover was very poorly built. While at the same time the original fountain in the Lido was taken out, with the excuse that it was "to make an additional sunbathing area". An alternative reason that was whispered was that the water source for the fountain was diverted to the paddling pool.
By Feb. 2000 there was great concern shown about the Children's Paddling Pool (a very popular children's facility next to the Lido) and the fact that it was not fit to open the previous summer. David Dedinger (of the LFUG) had collected signatures from the mothers and got publicity about the closure in the Hackney Gazette. The various cracks and fissures that have been appearing for many years, causing loss of water, have been subject to temporary repaired many times before. There was a long hot summer in 1999 and the local children had really missed their pool. The Users were also concerned about the quoted cost of renovation. Up to £7,000 when last discussed. A sum that with the loss of Budget in 1999, was not available. Could the council afford it? A number of us, who are experienced in building, repair and water retention, suggested that between the regulars of the User Group we could easily repair it ourselves. Direct Action by the Users could both precipitate its repair and considerably reduce the expense. It would first require exploratory work to determine the extent of the damage and from that assess the quantities and cost of materials. We asked Alan Edwards the manager for permission to get into the pool and complete the first stage of our enquiry and turned up on Sat. 4th of March to see if we could find causes for all the problems over the years. Mike, Victor, Paul and Gerry arrived tooled up in order to look behind the cracks.The thin cement render was quite hollow behind, particularly behind the cracks and fissures. We found only a little loose, damp sand between the render and the soil behind it. This problem was quite extensive in the wall of the pool. The render capping on top of the walls was only slightly thicker, just over an inch, but laying directly on soil. Now that the problem was exposed it was obvious that it was all due to the inadequate original construction. We had a short discussion and came to an agreed solution. Paul, an experienced building estimator, did some pacing out and some calculations (on the back of an envelope) and was later able to get a price quotation of £4000 for the walls complete rebuilding in reinforced concrete, excluding the paintwork. Alan was pleased with the realistic price and said that he would bring this up with Kevin Crompton (director of Learning and Leisure) to get permission to start the job in the new financial year. The local Councillors, Hettie Peters, Philip Pearson and Mark Williams gave full support. Some delays were caused by the original contractor pulling out at the last minute and a second contractor then having to be found. We also asked for a key for the site to be made available to the contractor for access. The key never was produced. This caused delays on every day they turned up waiting for a Park Ranger to let them in. By September the Children's Paddling Pool has been rebuilt to price, if not in time for use that year. Alan Edwards has had it painted by council workers with special pool paint. It was filled with water, prepared for opening in 2001, but then the run off was vandalised. This was not repaired until the following year. Then there were concerns about staff for health and safety risk. Then parks found they could not afford to purchase the cartons of chlorine tablets to sterilise the water. Meanwhile, teenagers were using it for vigorous skateboarding, testing the structure to the limit. It came through with hardly a scratch. In spite of being completed the paddling pool did not open until May 2004. In constant use all through the summers ever since it is the children's favourite. |
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