Bushey splash park closed AGAIN just a week after reopening

A spokesperson for Hertsmere Borough Council confirmed that the King George Recreation Ground's Splash Pad closed temporarily again yesterday (July 18) due to a “faulty part”, and will be fixed next week.

They added: "We do apologise to everyone for the disappointment caused as we know the youngsters enjoy this facility."

Update: the park is now open.

It comes as temperatures in the town are expected to reach 31C today, according to the Met Office, in what could be the UK’s hottest day of the year so far.

The site's latest closure comes just a week after it reopened and is the fourth since May 4 - although the latest problem is not believed to be connected to previous issues.

The splash pad has closed for the fourth time since it opened for summer in May. (Image: Hertsmere County Council)One Bushey resident shared their frustration online: “Whoever runs and maintains this needs sacking and someone with just a little bit of competence put in their place.

“Poor kids always being told no, it's not open because of faults... how many faults could one splash park have?”

Families can still enjoy the hot weather at the Cassiobury Park paddling pool today after it reopened on Wednesday (July 17) following “essential” maintenance.

Liberal Democrats councillor Maxie Allen said: "The root problem is the pumphouse is too old, too small, and no longer fit for purpose.

"The council has resisted this conclusion for years. But the time has come to accept reality and rebuild the splash park with proper, new equipment.

Cllr Allen said the park's pumphouse was too old, too small and no longer fit for purpose. (Image: Cllr Maxie Allen) "I hope other councillors will agree, so we can bid for the funds to achieve this."

The Bushey splash park was shut for over a month from May 24 until last Thursday (July 11) due to "water quality issues". Before that, it saw two separate closures over a pump fault and "operator error".

One local said it was “time to call it and stop throwing taxpayers' good money after bad”, adding: “At what point do you say enough is enough?” 

• Splash park 'never seems to work' as it remains closed and temperatures soar
• Third splash park closure in weeks branded 'absolute joke'

Another agreed and branded the water park “pointless”. 

“It breaks every time it's expected to have hot weather," they wrote. “I think it would be better, and cheaper, to get rid of it and replace it with something else that the children can actually use.”

It follows multiple closures in recent years, including in July and August 2022 and for 12 days in June last year due to an issue with a chlorine dosing unit.

The splash park was launched in 2017 as a replacement for the former paddling pool which had also been beset by problems since it opened in 1999.