THE condemned Coate Water splash park could be replaced with a hybrid paddling pool/splash park combination or even a beach, new plans show. 

During the summer, the council made the decision not to reopen the Splash Park after it underwent maintenance, citing that it was at the end of its life and had been for some time and that keeping to going was no longer viable. 

READ MORE: Swindon council says Coate Water splash park 'at end of life'

Money is already set aside for a replacement and councillor Chris Watts, who is responsible for Coate Water and Swindon's other council-owned outdoor spaces, has commissioned a focus group to get the ball rolling on it. 

But as part of the process the council has also released a survey asking for thoughts from members of the public about what they'd like to see replace the ailing attraction.

A council spokesperson said: "Share your ideas for the future of Coate Water Splash Park

"A survey is now open until September 15 for you to share your thoughts and ideas about what you’d like to see at the Coate Water splash park.

"This comes after the splash park was closed in July after it developed another fault following routine maintenance, so we’re now looking to begin the procurement process for a brand-new facility."

In the survey, people are asked whether they would like to see a new splash park, a paddling pool, a hybrid splash park and paddling pool or an artificial beach. 

To take part in the survey, visit: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/3LU7PD/

The area that the out-of-use splash park currently sits in used to be home to a paddling pool.

But the pool had become dilapidated and so plans were made to replace it with a £120,000 splash park, which opened in June 2012. 

Just over a decade later that park is also dilapidated and at the 'end of its life', as Coun Watts explained in comments made earlier this year.

"Since I took over as cabinet member it has been clear that the splash park was at the end of its life and would need to be completely replaced," he said. 

“We had hoped we would get one more summer out of it, but the plant is creaking at the seams and could not stand up to the latest routine maintenance.

"We’ve therefore taken the decision now not to spend thousands of pounds for just a few weeks’ of use and to concentrate all our efforts on creating a new splash park which can be used for many years to come."

Coun Watts added the splash park replacement would form part of a larger plan for the country park. 

He said: "This will form part of a larger plan to re-open the golf facilities, provide an enhanced catering offering and a cleaning program for the lake to allow greater and more diverse use.”