Hackney paddling pool row intensifies

A disagreement has surfaced between Hackney's Green council leadership and the Labour opposition concerning the future of the London Fields paddling pool. The pool has been inaccessible to the public since February 2020, initially shut for significant renovation works. A petition advocating for its reopening has garnered over 900 signatures.

Criticism over reopening commitment

Labour councillor Anntoinette Bramble, who leads the Labour group, expressed disappointment with the Green administration's response when the campaigners' petition was presented to the cabinet on 20 July. She stated that there was "no firm commitment to re-opening the London Fields paddling pool." Cllr Bramble told the Hackney Citizen that Hackney residents were promised change by the Green Party but that "action not just kind platitudes and more listening exercises" is required. She added that Labour would continue to advocate for action on the issue.

Historical context cited

Responding to Cllr Bramble's comments, Green councillor Jacob Cable, cabinet member for climate, clean air, energy and transport, pointed to the pool's history of closure under previous Labour administrations. He told the Hackney Citizen that the Green administration had inherited a difficult situation, including budget constraints, and that the pool had remained closed across "three administrations, in two of which Cllr Bramble sat on the cabinet." Cllr Cable stated that his administration had initiated a path forward with officers and the user group in a fraction of the time the pool had been closed.

Hackney Council's press office confirmed that Cllr Cable met representatives from the London Fields User Group on 27 July. A working group was agreed upon during this meeting, and officers are currently examining options to bring the space back into use "over the coming months." Any associated costs are expected to be managed within the existing budget.

Campaigners' efforts

The paddling pool, which opened in 1978, was a popular free alternative to the nearby lido. The council's initial plan in February 2020 was to integrate the site with a new training pool, but this project did not proceed. The petition, launched in March by the London Fields User Group, was presented after campaigners demonstrated outside the Town Hall. Supporters have argued that reopening the pool would serve as a public health benefit for families living in properties without gardens, particularly in light of the Mayor of London's Heat Ready London plan which advocates for increased access to safe water spaces.

At the 20 July cabinet meeting, Cllr Cable committed to unlocking the space "immediately" and establishing a working group to develop a financially viable plan for its reopening. Cllr Bramble welcomed the July meeting but noted it occurred after her public statement and suggested that resident pressure had prompted the new administration to seek a solution.

What happens next

Hackney Council has confirmed that a working group is in place to explore options for reopening the London Fields paddling pool. Officers are currently reviewing possibilities, with the aim of bringing the space back into use in the coming months. Any expenses related to the reopening will be covered by the current council budget.