Stoke Park Paddling Pool Is Open Again Following Safety Investigation

Published on: 18 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2025

The notice that announced the closure

By David Reading

The investigation into contamination at Stoke Park paddling pool in Guildford has been completed and the pool has been reopened.

Describing the nature of the problem at the end of May, Guildford Borough Council revealed that initial tests had shown that the water was alkaline and it appeared to be frothy. As a result, the water did not meet required safety standards.

A statement at that time said: “We’re in the process of emptying the pool and thoroughly flushing it to remove any contaminated water. Repeated flushing of the pool and water system will take place to ensure all contaminants are removed.”

Announcing the opening today (July 18),  a council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the paddling pool in Stoke Park is now open. However, due to the current weather forecast, which includes risks of thunderstorms over the weekend, we’ve kept the opening low-key for now.

“Thunderstorms present a serious safety risk, particularly around water, and they may require us to temporarily close the pool at short notice. We want to avoid a situation where families travel to Stoke Park expecting the pool to be open, only to be disappointed by a weather-related closure.”

The spokesperson said the opening would be announced formally once the forecast was more settled and the council could be confident the pool would remain open.

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