A BEWDLEY paddling pool faces the axe in April after the town council refused to take over running the facility.

Wyre Forest District Council was hoping to transfer the responsibility of running the paddling pool in Riverside North Park to Bewdley Town Council - who turned down the request.

As it stands, the pool will close on April 1.

Councillor Stephen Clee, chairman of Bewdley Town Council's policy and resources committee, said: "The town council is happy to take on services and responsibilities from the district council that represent better value for money for the people of Bewdley, but we do not feel that the paddling pool meets this criteria.

"The pool requires significant investment to bring the facility up to an acceptable standard and the town council are not currently in a position to accept this liability."

Nick Farress, Bewdley town clerk, added: "The town council have taken on several service transfers under the Localism Act including the Load Street public toilets, the green space in Load Street car park and the Wyre Hill play area, and we will continue to work with the district council on projects of mutual interest and benefit to the town.

"The costs involved in taking on the pool versus the potential benefits simply doesn't stack up for us."

Councillors on Bewdley Town Council also urged the district council to work with the Friends of Riverside North Park, before making any final decision on the future of the paddling pool.

The transfer was hoped to be part of the district council's Localism agenda, which sees parish and town councils taking ownership and control of services - with the ability to enhance and adapt them to best suit local need - while making budget savings for the district.

The district council has recently handed over the responsibility of running the St George's Park paddling pool to Kidderminster Town Council, after a campaign was launched to save it.

Councillor Marcus Hart, Wyre Forest District Council leader and cabinet member for localism, said: "The district council is working hard with town councils and local groups with the aim that valued services can continue to be delivered in the light of our drastically reduced grant from Government.

"This includes none essential services such as the local paddling pools."

Cllr Hart added: "Recently, the district council has successfully transferred St George's Park's paddling pool to Kidderminster Town Council.

"Unfortunately, an asset transfer has not proved to be possible for the paddling pool at Riverside North Park in Bewdley, so the pool will close with effect from April 1, 2017, as it presently stands."