North Yorkshire families face wait for paddling pools
By demoduck.co.uk staff
Three popular paddling pools in North Yorkshire are staying closed while engineers investigate drainage concerns found during maintenance checks.
The temporary closures affect Valley Gardens paddling pool in Harrogate, Bebra Gardens paddling pool in Knaresborough and Borrage Green paddling pool in Ripon. North Yorkshire Council says the pools could not open for the recent Bank Holiday, and the current aim is to resolve the issue before the school summer holidays begin in mid-July.
Three family pools are affected
The closures apply to:
| Location | Town |
|---|---|
| Valley Gardens paddling pool | Harrogate |
| Bebra Gardens paddling pool | Knaresborough |
| Borrage Green paddling pool | Ripon |
Families planning warm-weather visits should treat all three sites as closed until the council confirms otherwise. The facilities are free outdoor attractions used heavily by young children and families during hot spells, making the timing particularly difficult for local residents.
The council has not announced a reopening date for any of the three pools. Further checks are expected to decide how long the closures need to remain in place.
Drainage concerns found during tougher checks
North Yorkshire Council said the issue was identified after a more stringent inspection process was introduced when responsibility for the venues came under its control.
The council says engineers found a potential problem with the drainage system. Because the issue needs further investigation, the pools are being kept closed as a precaution rather than opened while checks continue.
Drainage systems are a core safety feature for paddling pools. They help manage water flow, cleaning and routine maintenance, so problems in that area can affect whether a site is safe and ready for public use.
Once the drainage issue is resolved, the pools will still need their usual annual maintenance before reopening. That means the engineering checks are not the final step, but they will decide the timetable for the rest of the work.
Engineers due on site this week
Engineers are expected to visit Valley Gardens, Bebra Gardens and Borrage Green later this week. Their findings will help the council decide whether the pools can reopen quickly or whether further work is needed.
The council says it hopes to have the situation resolved by the start of the school summer holidays in mid-July. That is the key date for families, as the pools are most in demand once schools break up and warmer weather brings more children into local parks.
No alternative paddling pool arrangements have been announced in the council statement. Parents and carers should check the latest council updates before travelling, especially if planning a day out around one of the affected parks.
Council says safety is the priority
Karl Battersby, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, said the inspections had been deliberately more thorough.
“We are taking a more thorough approach to inspecting sites like these, and as a result our engineers have identified a potential issue with the drainage system which needs further investigation,” he said.
“Our priority is the safety of the public, and as a precaution the pools will remain closed while this work is carried out. Once the issue has been resolved, the pools will undergo their usual annual maintenance to ensure they are safe and ready to use.
“We know how valued these facilities are by local families, especially during warmer weather like we’re experiencing now, and we are working to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible.”
Source: North Yorkshire Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on North Yorkshire Council’s public notice about the temporary paddling pool closures.
- Matched the three affected sites named by the council.
- Checked the stated reason for closure against the council wording on drainage concerns.
- Included the council’s expected inspection timing and mid-July reopening aim.
- Attributed the safety explanation to Karl Battersby.
- Source
- North Yorkshire Council
- Scope
- North Yorkshire
- Updated
- 2026-05-26 19:17
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