North Yorkshire paddling pools stay shut for safety checks
Three popular paddling pools in North Yorkshire are temporarily closed after maintenance checks found drainage issues that need further investigation.
The closures affect the Valley Gardens paddling pool in Harrogate, the Bebra Gardens paddling pool in Knaresborough and the Borrage Green paddling pool in Ripon. North Yorkshire Council says engineers are due to visit the sites later this week, with the findings expected to shape how long the pools remain shut.
The council says it hopes the issue can be resolved by the start of the school summer holidays in mid-July, but no reopening date has yet been confirmed.
The essentials for families
- Closed sites: Valley Gardens in Harrogate, Bebra Gardens in Knaresborough and Borrage Green in Ripon.
- Reason: drainage concerns identified during a more stringent maintenance inspection.
- Next step: engineers are expected to inspect the pools later this week.
- Reopening target: the council hopes the pools can reopen by the start of the school summer holidays in mid-July.
- Current advice: families should treat all three paddling pools as closed until further updates are issued.
Three paddling pools affected across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon
The temporary closures cover three outdoor family facilities that are usually used during warmer weather and school breaks.
At Valley Gardens in Harrogate, the closure affects one of the town’s best-known park attractions for young children. In Knaresborough, Bebra Gardens paddling pool is also shut while checks continue. In Ripon, the Borrage Green paddling pool is included in the same inspection programme.
The closures meant the pools could not open in time for the recent Bank Holiday. That timing has left families waiting for clarity ahead of the main summer period, when free or low-cost outdoor play spaces become especially valuable.
Drainage concerns found during stricter inspections
North Yorkshire Council said the issue was identified after responsibility for the venues came under its control and a more stringent inspection process was introduced.
The council has described the problem as a potential issue with the drainage system. Further investigation is now needed before the pools can move through their usual annual maintenance process and be cleared for public use.
The authority has said the closures are precautionary. That means the pools are being kept shut while engineers assess the drainage systems and decide what work is needed before reopening can be considered.
Engineers due on site before reopening timetable is set
Engineers are expected to visit Valley Gardens, Bebra Gardens and Borrage Green later this week. Their findings will help determine whether the pools can reopen quickly or whether additional repair work is needed.
For now, the council’s working hope is to resolve the situation by the start of the school summer holidays in mid-July. That timing matters for families planning local days out, particularly if hot weather continues into the early summer period.
No exact reopening date has been announced. The next meaningful update is likely to depend on what engineers find during the site visits and whether drainage work can be completed before the annual safety and maintenance checks are finished.
Council says public safety is the priority
Karl Battersby, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, said the authority had taken a more thorough approach to inspecting sites such as the paddling pools.
He said engineers had identified a potential drainage issue that needed further investigation, and that the pools would remain closed as a precaution while the work is carried out.
“We know how valued these facilities are by local families, especially during warmer weather like we’re experiencing now, and we are working to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible.”
Source: North Yorkshire Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on North Yorkshire Council’s public notice about temporary paddling pool closures and maintenance checks.
- Matched the three affected sites named in the council notice.
- Checked the stated reason for closure against the source wording on drainage issues.
- Kept the reopening timing to the council’s stated hope of mid-July rather than a confirmed...
- Attributed the council response to Karl Battersby as named in the notice.
- Source
- North Yorkshire Council
- Scope
- North Yorkshire
- Updated
- 2026-05-26 19:14
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