A council has come under fire after announcing the temporary closure of three paddling pools during the hottest week of the year so far.
The pools in Valley Gardens, in Harrogate, Bebra Gardens in Knaresborough and Borrage Green, Ripon, will remain shut until further notice.
North Yorkshire Council says the closures are needed to allow checks to be carried out after problems came to light during maintenance.
They added that more stringent inspection processes were brought in after responsibility for the venues came under the control of the unitary authority.
Engineers are due to visit the sites later this week to assess how long the pools need to remain shut.
However, the council says it hopes to have the situation resolved by the start of the school summer holidays in mid-July.
North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said: “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.
“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.”
But Knaresborough West councillor Matt Walker said the issues were just the latest example of North Yorkshire Council failing the residents of the town.
Officials have told him that the Knaresborough pool needs repainting with special paint to stop users slipping, while handrails need to be installed to improve safety.
Checks are also due to take place to assess whether water from the pool drains into the River Nidd.
Cllr Walker said: “We’ve had the walkway in Viaduct Terrace which collapsed and we have had to push and push the council with that, and now we’ve got paddling calls that are not going to open until later in the summer, if at all. Why has this not been spotted before?
“It’s very frustrating. People are saying that the pool is one of the things you can do which doesn’t cost anything. It’s a cheap day out and it’s really nice for all the kids to play in there and meet other kids.”
Harrogate councillor Peter Lacey, who represents the Coppice Valley and Duchy, said the issues with the Valley Gardens pool were less serious but still “regrettable”.
“My understanding is it hasn’t been cleaned out properly, and the pump needs to be cleaned as well, so it’s a scheduling of a cleaning job issue, rather than a dereliction of duty,” he added.
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