PARENTS are vowing to raise the money needed to re-open an outdoor paddling pool used by hundreds of children.

Civic chiefs say they lack the funds to carry out vital improvements to the pool at Testwood Recreation Ground in Totton – so residents have pledged to find the cash themselves.

A fair at Calmore Junior School on Friday will be used to boost the £18,000 appeal, which has already raised hundreds of pounds.

A family fun day at Testwood Working Men’s Club on July 25 and a car boot sale in August will also help to swell the coffers.

The popular pool is normally used by as many as 50 children a day during the summer but is currently lying empty and deserted.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the town council has kept the facility closed this summer after taking health and safety advice.

Staff have always used a bucket to tip chlorine into the water but the facility needs an automatic chlorination system to meet modern standards.

The council claims its funds are committed to other projects, including the transformation of Eling Tide Mill.

One of the parents behind the fundraising drive is Trevor Newbury, 33, of Calmore, who is determined to see the pool re-open in time for next summer.

He said: “It’s been here for 45 years and is part of the local culture.

“This summer’s a write-off in terms of the pool re-opening but we want it to be at the centre of a massive celebration next year.

“There are almost 40,000 people in Totton and we only need £18,000 – the equivalent of just 50p from everyone in the town.”

Liberal Democrat councillor David Harrison complained that the Tory-controlled authority was having to rely on what he described as “charity hand-outs”.

He added: “The council has done a very poor job in failing to anticipate public demand and taking appropriate and timely action to sort things out.”

Mr Newbury said: “We are a little bit cross but haven’t really got time to be angry. There’s no point just sitting around whinging.”

Councillors backing the appeal include Neville Penman and Samantha Churn.

Cllr Penman said: “All the members want this pool to re-open and if the money is raised there’s no reason why it can’t be done.”

The issue was raised at a meeting of the council’s amenities committee.

Citing the need to equip the pool with an automatic chlorination system town clerk Derek Biggs said: “Cars didn’t used to have seatbelts and airbags but they do today to meet modern standards.

“Pool technology has moved forward in exactly the same way.”