Over 500 Warwick locals have backed a petition calling for free family alternatives while the town's paddling pool remains shut.

The facility at St Nicholas Park has been shut since 2024 and was due to reopen last May alongside the pool in Victoria Park in Leamington Spa following repair works to both.

Victoria Park's did open for just a few days in July 2025 but it was quickly shut again due to "significant issues".

The reopening of the St Nicholas Park pool was also cancelled and it is yet to reopen.

Warwick District Council (WDC) recently confirmed the final repair works are starting to get both pools open again, but a petition to the local authority says families should be given somewhere else to entertain their children in the meantime.

Launched by parent Deepika Lather, the petition says: "Like many families in Leamington Spa, Warwick and the surrounding areas, I regularly use our public parks with my children.

"For many of us, Victoria Park in Leamington Spa and St Nicholas Park in Warwick are not just parks.

"They are places where children run around, families meet, parents get a little breathing space, and young children can enjoy simple outdoor play without everything costing money.

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"The paddling pools at these parks are especially important during warm weather, school holidays and weekends. They are one of the few free outdoor water-play facilities available locally for young children.

"But once again, both paddling pools remain closed, with no clear reopening date for families."

The petition asks for "two clear things".

Firstly it demands a "clear public explanation" of what has gone wrong, who is responsible for the issue, and when the pools will reopen.

And secondly it calls for temporary arrangements for the summer.

"If the paddling pools cannot open soon, then families should not simply be left with closed gates and no alternative," the petition continues.

"We are asking Warwick District Council to arrange temporary summer support for local families, such as:

• "Free or discounted family swim sessions at local leisure centres
• "Children's activity or leisure vouchers
• "Extra free outdoor family activities during school holidays
• "Pop-up water play sessions where safe and possible."

In a statement shared last week, WDC said a contract for the final works had been signed.

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It blamed further delays on challenges including "adequate contractor technical assurance, poor weather and subcontractors' availability, preventing progress of the rectification programme".

No reopening date has been announced.

Nub News reported last year that council officers admitted they had "underestimated the technical knowledge, support and oversight" needed in the near £1 million refurbishment of the public paddling pools.

Click here to see the petition in full.