CANVEY'S Concord Beach Paddling Pool is to reopen, says Castle Point Council. 

In a statement on their website, the council says arrangements are being made to re-open the pool. 

On Wednesday, the Echo reported how the beach was fenced off over safety concerns.

Castle Point Council put fences around Concord Beach paddling pool, on Canvey, after a councillor commissioned his own safety report.

Colin Letchford, an independent councillor, has long campaigned to make the pool safe and took matters into his own hands by ordering a report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents which found the concrete-bottomed pool poses “unacceptably high” risks.

Today, Castle Point Council received a preliminary report from independent safety consultants Quality Leisure Management Ltd which concludes: given the pool has been operating in a very similar way for many years, there is no knowledge of significant accidents and the likelihood of a life changing accidents is small, the pool can continue to operate with the current control measures of signs restricting access onto the stone groyne walls and staff patrols.

Residents are asked to pay attention to the signs, take care and continue to enjoy the facility.

The statement said: "The pool was closed as precautionary measure following receipt of a  report commissioned from ROSPA  by Councillor Colin Letchford who has no authority to act on behalf of the Council.

"Whilst the council challenged the validity and accuracy of the ROSPA report, given the report’s  conclusions the Council had no alternative but to close the pool pending further safety advice.

"The council had  prior to receiving a copy of the ROSPA report  from Councillor Letchford, commissioned Quality Leisure Management Ltd  to undertake an independent safety  review of the facility as part of its ongoing management regime."