Families across Fylde will soon be able to enjoy the seafront’s much-loved paddling pool once again, after the Executive Committee approved funding to complete essential repairs that will protect this historic attraction for generations to come.
The free, family favourite in Promenade Gardens, first built in 1912 as a boating pool beside the Grade II listed bandstand, was closed this summer after surface cracks turned out to run far deeper than first thought. Investigations found water had worked beneath the historic structure after decades of use, weakening the layers below and creating a safety risk for children. Rather than patch over the damage and risk failure again, the Council chose a thorough repair that tackles the problem at its root.
The Executive Committee has now approved £86,284.35, funded from the Capital Investment Reserve, to complete the five-stage repair carried out by specialist contractor GJN & Son Ltd – removing the damaged material, rebuilding the base and finishing with a fresh coat of paint carefully colour-matched to the pool’s classic blue. The work comes with a 10-year warranty, giving real confidence in its lasting quality.
Councillor Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said: “This paddling pool has been bringing joy to St Annes families for well over a century, so it was vital we got this repair right rather than rushing a quick fix that wouldn’t last.
“I’d like to thank our officers and contractors for their hard work getting to the bottom of a genuinely tricky problem, and I’m really looking forward to seeing children splashing about here again.”
With the final stages of curing and testing needing to be completed properly, the pool will now stay closed over winter and reopen fresh for the start of the 2027 season – giving families a fully restored, long-lasting attraction to look forward to next year. The repair reflects the council’s wider commitment to protecting Fylde’s seafront heritage for future generations.
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