Skegness Magazine

News Story Date 22nd May 2006
After a long battle and demonstrations to save the Fairy Dell children’s paddling pool in Skegness from closure, East Lindsey District Council finally declared it re-opened today.

The council closed the Fairy Dell and Sunshine paddling pools in September 2004 because the fluctuating quality of the water could be hazardous.
The public voiced their views and 4,000 people signed a petition for it to be re-opened.
East Lindsey announced that the Fairy Dell would be refurbished. There would be a complete restoration of the Fairy Dell with additional water features. This included the retention and refurbishment of the existing fountain; addition water features within the pools; accessible ramp to main pool; a bridge; perimeter fencing; new plant room; new pool surround and refurbished shelter.
The cost of refurbishment was estimated at £250,000.

below: the newly refurbished Fairy Dell

A spokesman from East Lindsey District Council (far left) said that the fountain was originally made in Glasgow, Scotland in 1880 by George Clark and Son. It was originally installed near the
Lumley Hotel in Skegness in 1880. In the early 1900s, it was moved to the foreshore near the present site of the Embassy Theatre. In the 1920s, the fountain was moved to its present location at the Southern Foreshore, and the paddling pool was constructed around the fountain. The spokesman said “it’s had a number of different homes in its life”.
below: the Fairy Dell padding pool in 1955

The East Lindsey District Council spokesman added that many of the projects on the foreshore including the Fairy Dell, Sunshine paddling pool, Outdoor Pool, Boating Lake, Waterway and Embassy Theatre were pioneered by a Mr Roland Jenkins who worked for the then Skegness Urban District Council.

The Sunshine Paddling Pool was a feature built on the Northern Foreshore of Skegness, in the shape of the word ‘SUNSHINE’. You can see the old fountain to the right of the photo. It was closed at the same time, and for the same reasons as the Fairy Dell. Its future is still in debate, but at the moment it has been developed as a garden feature.

Carl Bradley, (above right) lead engineer of East Lindsey District Council, told us about the new plant which powers the new Fairy Dell.
He said that sand filters clarify the pool water, which changes every twenty to thirty minutes. The water is chlorinated before being returned to the paddling pool. There is a chlorine analyzer which balances the pH (acidity and alkalinity measured on a (pH) scale of 1 to 14 with a value of 7 being neutral), of the water. Mr Bradley said that the plant is very hi-tech and will maintain the water quality up to swimming pool standards. A pool operative will be constantly on stand-by checking and cleaning the pool throughout the day.below: East Lindsey District Council officials

The Fairy Dell has been refurbished to the highest possible standards, but it is always advisable to supervise children near water.

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