Exclusive:Council apologises after Rivelin splash park is closed over hottest weekend of year and during school holidays
”You can’t make it up”
A council run splash park for children was closed over the hottest weekend of the year so far and during the start of the half-term school holiday in Sheffield.
Rivelin Valley water play in Rivelin Valley Park is a popular spot for families during spells of hot weather.
But over the bank holiday weekend and yesterday the splash park was out of action.
Temperatures have topped 30C over recent days and the warm weather is set to continue this week while Sheffield children are on their half-term holiday from school.
Sheffield Council issued a statement about the closure yesterday explaining that “essential works to maintain water quality and site safety” had been carried out.
But angry parents said they had not been made aware of the closure before they visited the park and suggested that it should have been announced in advance.
Sheffield Council’s parks and countryside Facebook page statement posted yesterday says: “If you visited Rivelin Vallley water play during the bank holiday weekend and found it closed, we apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.
“We have been carrying out essential works to maintain water quality and site safety.
“We aim to have the water play open again later this week and will provide an update as soon as it's ready for action, then it's yours for the whole summer!”
As of 8.30am today, an update on when the park will re-open had not been provided.
Sheffield resident Alec Besant said: “Why don't the council plan the works on it during the colder months in preparation for the hotter months.
“Having lived near the water park for over 20 years I have seen it open a handful of times and they wonder why younger kids are drawn to open water that is unsafe.”
Ellie Weston posted: “Could you not have updated the opening date on the website to reflect this rather than letting hundreds of kids turn up in swimming costumes to find the gate still locked?”
Kelsey Ainley agreed, adding: “It's a bit late for a Facebook update now, why didn't you let people know this before the weekend? We travelled an hour only for our little boy to be hot and disappointed in his swimming costume!”
Kelly Carlton added: “We did the same, we travelled 40 mins to find the gates locked.”
Helen Sewell added: “It would have been nice to have been informed of this beforehand, to save us driving all the way there and leaving with 2 very disappointed children!”
Carine Hartley said: “Say same thing every year, not good enough. You have most of the year to make sure everything is in good working order ready for scheduled opening.”
John Kipling added: “We were disappointed. Why didn't you share this update before the weekend? Lots of disappointed and hot children hoping to use the splash park this weekend.”
Adam Mark commented: “You can’t make it up.”
The splash park’s website has not been updated with details of the closure.
Sheffield Council has been contacted.