No re-opening date for Wellingborough Splash Park as council admits it will remain closed over bumper bank holiday

One of Wellingborough’s most popular family attractions is to remain closed after the council confirmed they do not have enough qualified staff to run it.

Visiting the Splash Park on the Embankment next to the River Nene is one of the area’s most-loved free pastimes.

With the summer drawing near and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holidays looming, locals began asking when the Splash Park will reopen.

But when it emerged that the park may remain closed, people on social media started to voice their anger.

One said: “That water park is the only day out a lot of kids get in this area. It’s like a holiday for them.”

Another added: “I’m so disappointed. We go there regularly as soon as it starts getting warm, especially when we can’t afford to go away.”

Cllr Martin Griffiths, former Wellingborough Council leader who now sits as an independent, has been looking into the issue for residents and has started a petition to get the park reopened.

He told this newspaper: “The Splash Park has been a popular attraction for many years and the former borough council improved the facilities using developer contributions to give hundreds of families, and thousands of kids, a wonderful free summer experience.

"With money tight for many families, this is absolute madness.

"Quite frankly, I am appalled that the new council can not get this facility staffed and reopened this summer.