Open our paddling pools and splash pads earlier!
As temperatures in London rise earlier each year, families across Merton are increasingly finding our splash pads and paddling pools closed during the hottest weeks of late spring and early summer.
That’s why Merton Liberal Democrats are calling on the Council to open these facilities earlier in the year - and we’ve launched a petition to show the strength of public feeling.
In 2024 Liberal Democrat councillors set out a costed proposal to extend the opening season for paddling pools and splash pads, but the Council’s Labour administration blocked this. Last year, Wimbledon’s Liberal Democrat MP sought to engage with the Council to understand the problems they had, and to encourage them to think about it differently.
This year we have been working to see if we can find sponsors to offer the funding to enable earlier opening.
Meanwhile, the Council’s current timetable means splash pads do not open until mid-June, and paddling pools not until mid-July, despite recent years seeing record June – and sometimes late May – temperatures.
As part of making Merton a great place to grow up, children deserve access to safe, free places to cool down when hot weather arrives - not weeks later.
Open Merton’s splash pads and paddling pools earlier
As temperatures in London rise earlier each year, families across Merton are increasingly finding our splash pads and paddling pools closed during the hottest weeks of late spring and early summer.
Merton Liberal Democrats are calling on Merton Council to open these facilities earlier in the year.