URGENT plans to build a fence around the city’s Splashpad to stop people from walking over it and making it a health and safety risk will be discussed next week.

Worcester City Council wants to spend £25,000 on the fence to prevent bikes, skaters and dogs from getting on the popular Splashpad in Gheluvelt Park to reduce the potential for the water becoming contaminated.

The fence would also keep the Splashpad clean, reduce the potential for the water being contaminated or the surface being damaged, maintain health and safety standards and reduce the frequency of repairs, the city council said.

A report by the council, which includes refurbishment recommendations from officers, said: “Installation of measures such as a fence or partial fence to reduce the risk of infection, improve water quality and reduce the risk of damage has been recommended.

“With the current high levels of footfall across the surface when the splash pad is not open, a large range of pathogens are introduced increasing the risk of bacterial infection.

“This is caused by people, dogs and other wildlife walking across it, with prams, bikes and scooters riding over it.

“This [work] has been prioritised due to the health and safety concerns and risks associated with not having the area fenced off.”

The city council's environment committee meets next Tuesday (January 28) to discuss the proposal.

Several other planned refurbishments amounting to more than £300,000 and due to be completed across the next three years will also be discussed.

The planned work also includes a new basketball hoop, which would replace the one at Gheluvelt Park, which is due to be removed as part of work to create new tennis courts. The proposed court would be either in Gheluvelt Park or Pitchcroft.

Other proposed work in the next year includes a new access gate to the Cripplegate Park play area and repairs to its tarmac surface, and the start of ongoing repairs to wet pour surfacing at 36 play areas across the city.

If councillors agree to the work, the old play area at Tunnel Hill, where equipment was removed some years ago, will be restored as green open space.