The Coate Water splash park will reopen 'later than planned' as a £475,000 transformation continues.

New pictures show the state of the much-loved facility as the summer holidays begin.

With the Oasis and Health Hydro closed, Swindon Borough Council provided some hope for families looking to cool off when it announced the defunct splash park would be replaced with a brand new offering, and confirmed work had begun in May. 

At the time, councillor Chris Watts, the cabinet member for the environment and transport, said: “This new area will be fully accessible and we want to get it open in time for the summer holidays so families can take full advantage of the, hopefully, nice weather.”

But with schools now breaking up for six weeks, members of the Facebook page Coate Water Splash Park Watch which was set up to monitor when the previous splash park was closed because it happened so often, expressed their doubts. 

One person wrote: "When is the completion date supposed to be? Are they working there today till the end of term to finish it off? Why are things taking so long?

"It’s essential for this in Swindon. we have nothing over here!"

Another added: "Hardly going to be ready for the summer hols is it?"

Some weren't so quick to rush to judgement though.

One person said: "Always complaining. Give them chance! Rome wasn’t built in a day."

When finished, the new £475,000 splash park will include a paddling pool, water features and games.

It is designed to be fully accessible with the use of flat surfaces and a slope to get into the paddling pool to allow wheelchair access, rumble strips, handrails, and interactive elements located outside of the wet zones.

The previous splash park, which itself had replaced an outdoor swimming pool, has been closed since the start of July last year after a series of on-and-off openings. 

It was initially closed then for maintenance, but eventually, the council announced that the facility was not fit for purpose and could no longer be kept open.

Swindon Borough Council issued an update on Facebook yesterday: "We’re incredibly excited to open our new splash park this summer and we’re making good progress.

"At the moment, our contractor has re-laid the concrete surface and re-installed the pipe work and drainage.

"However, we’re still waiting for the soft flooring surface, which has come from Spain, to arrive on site.

"It’s currently being held in customs and we’re working hard with our suppliers and contractors to get it to Swindon. This means we’ll be opening slightly later than planned but the splash park will still be open for children to enjoy this summer.

"We’ll update on a specific opening date as soon as the flooring is in Swindon. We’d like to thank you for your patience and we promise it’ll be worth it when it opens."

Last year a revamped play park opened at Coate Water - just yards from the new splash park - at the cost of £500,000.