Campaigners in Hackney have secured a victory after the council agreed to reopen the London Fields paddling pool, which has been closed since 2020. The decision came following a protest outside Hackney Town Hall on July 20, where parents and children demanded the return of the free facility.
Background of the closure
The paddling pool, first opened in 1978, was shut for major works in 2020 but never reopened despite previous commitments. A petition launched by the London Fields User Group in March gathered over 900 signatures. The pool is popular among local families, especially those without gardens, as a free play space.
Campaigners speak out
Cecilia Parr, a key campaigner, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "When you have a child under five, it's a crucial age. All sorts of child development is grounded in discovery and play, freedom and imagination, but for parents there just aren't enough hours in the day." She highlighted the disparity between residents with gardens and those in flats without. Consultant psychiatrist Kate Highton argued that restoring the pool would act as a "public health intervention" and tackle children's mental health crises. She stated: "Spaces like the paddling pool are some of the precious places where people from diverse communities come together, who are not served by the lido. If Haringey can run three paddling pools, why can't we have one?"
Council response
Hackney Council's Cabinet Member for Climate, Clean Air, Energy and Transport, Cllr Jacob Cable (Green), promised to unlock the space "immediately" and establish a working group for a financially sustainable reopening plan. He also committed to meeting campaigners to discuss short-term accessibility measures.
Broader context
The campaign coincides with Mayor Sadiq Khan's 'Heat Ready London' plan, which aims to expand access to blue spaces for cooling during heatwaves. Residents like Colin and Caroline Sears recalled using the pool with their children, noting the lido is expensive for families. Childminder Dyna Samuel said the pool was a community bonding space and a "freedom space" for her son, adding that low-income families couldn't afford alternatives.
