People are expressing anger amid an update on a south Oxfordshire town's splash park closure.
With record temperatures across Oxfordshire, including above 30°C in some areas, the Vale of White Horse District Council shut Wantage Splash Park, at Manor Park Memorial Gardens.
The local authority has now made a further announcement as members of the community ask why the area wasn’t prepared before the summer.
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Announcing the closure on May 22, a spokesperson for the council said: “We are sorry to share the news that the splash pad at Manor Park Memorial Gardens in Wantage will not be open for the May half-term holiday.
“Following a recent inspection, we’ve identified significant damage to the surfacing, which means the area is currently not safe to use.
“As a result, we’ve taken the decision to close the splash pad while urgent repairs are carried out.
“We know this will be disappointing, especially during the school holidays and with warmer weather expected.
“However, the safety of children and all visitors is our top priority, and we cannot open the facility until it is safe to do so.”
They added that repairs are being made as a priority.
Responding to this several people expressed their fury at the announcement.
Helen Wilkins said: “Why is it Wantage is always left to last?
“It seems that Abingdon and Didcot are first in line for everything councillors in Wantage and Grove only happy for Wantage and Grove to build houses!”
“Shame this wasn’t actioned sooner,” added Andy DeLozier, “it was barely useable last summer for crying out loud”.
Tamzin Osborne said: “No surprise there then.”
On Monday, June 1, the council released another statement in which they said they are working hard to repair the damage.
The spokesperson said: “Officers are now working on plans for a permanent repair or replacement of the surface, and we will provide further updates as soon as we can confirm the programme for these works, to enable us to return the splash pad to its former condition as quickly as possible.”
They directed those looking to cool down to Wantage Leisure Centre, however it is possible that some will instead go open-water swimming in rivers or lakes.
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This practice has drawn some scrutiny over the past heatwave as 15 people died swimming across the UK.
That number includes Baltazar L'Quy, who got into difficulty in the River Thames, close to Donnington Bridge in Oxford, on Wednesday evening, May 27, before he was pronounced dead.
As a result, multiple emergency services have provided advice on how to practice open water swimming safely including Thames Valley Police and the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
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