Delight as Walsall Arboretum water park to open longer

Parents had asked for the new water feature, which replaced the park's historic lido, to be open more amid concerns younger children may miss out.

Opening hours had originally been restricted to weekends and school holidays but the feature will now be open Monday to Friday.

Parents had said they wanted to see it open in nice weather during the week so it can be used by younger children who are not yet at school. The new splash pad and water jets proved popular with visitors when they opened last month.

Leisure chief Councillor Anthony Harris said the decision had been made after park staff chatted to visitors about it.

"We're thrilled to see so many people have been enjoying the super new splash pad and water feature at the Arboretum," he said.

"Park staff have been talking to visitors who said they would like to see the feature open in the week for pre-school children to be able to use and we're happy to oblige.

"We want as many visitors as possible to be able to get the most out of this new attraction and are keeping our fingers crossed the weather continues to stay fine and dry for now."

The water feature, which forms part of the children's playground, will be open from 10.30am to 4.30pm on week days, weather permitting.

It is also open at weekends from 11am to 5pm.

The historic lido had been popular with families since the 1950 but was replaced after it was condemned as unhygienic.

Work to replace it began last year and had originally due to be finished in time for the main summer school holidays.

But it hit delays and opened instead on May 25 and was well received by the first families who headed to check it out.

The new wet zone includes sprinklers and a splash section.

Walsall Arboretum is undergoing a £7.5 million revamp. The final stage of the work for a visitor's centre is due to start in September.