Plans to open the paddling pool at St Nicholas' Park, Warwick, on 24 July have been postponed after the site was not formally handed over to Warwick District Council with the required certification.
Council confirms new timetable
In a statement issued on Friday, the council said it had hoped the facility would open "in time for the weekend" but that it could not do so because the contractor had not completed the legal handover process. The authority stated it has been "pushing the contractor hard to bring this date forward." Final checks and an official handover are now expected on Monday 27 July, with the paddling pool at Victoria Park in Leamington scheduled to follow on Wednesday 29 July.
Why the delay matters locally
The St Nicholas' Park pool has been closed since 2024 and, alongside the Victoria Park facility, was due to reopen following defect rectification work. Customers and families who had anticipated using the pool over the school summer holidays will now face a short wait while the council completes the legal and safety requirements.
- Handover requirement: The council needs the contractor to provide certification before the site can be opened to the public.
- Safety warning: Although the site may appear accessible, it remains a construction area and must not be entered until officially opened and gates are unlocked.
- Staggered reopenings: St Nicholas' Park is due first (27 July handover), with Victoria Park in Leamington following (29 July).
"We had hoped that St Nicholas Park Paddling Pool would open to the public today in time for the weekend. Unfortunately, we are unable to do this, as the facility has not been legally handed over to the Council by the contractor with the required certification."
Background and recent history
Both paddling pools have been subject to defect rectification programmes. The Victoria Park pool in Leamington was closed for repairs in 2024 and St Nicholas' Park was closed at the end of the 2024 season; both were originally due to reopen in May 2025. Problems with the upgrade previously led to short-lived reopening at Victoria Park earlier this year, and further delays prompted scrutiny from local users and from Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, who said he had been pressing the council for answers.
Practical information for residents
The council has urged people not to enter the St Nicholas' Park site until gates are unlocked following the official opening. No alternative dates will be announced until the handover and final checks have been completed. The authority says it remains in contact with the contractor and is seeking to ensure the pools open for the school summer holidays where possible.
| Pool | Closed since | Expected handover |
|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas' Park, Warwick | End of 2024 season | 27 July (final checks & handover) |
| Victoria Park, Leamington | 2024 (repairs) | 29 July (final checks & handover) |
The council's message to residents is clear: while the works are nearing completion, legal and safety steps must be finished before either pool can reopen. Until the contractor completes the certification and the council accepts formal handover, both sites remain construction areas and are off-limits to the public.
