The reopening of Splash World in Southport has been delayed until 2023.
The water park was initially due to reopen this October after being closed over the past three years after the discovery of a series of defects on site.
Sefton Council, which operates the facility, has blamed “international, industry-wide supply chain issues” for the delays.
No date for next year’s opening has yet been given, with an announcement to be made in due course.
The council said that difficulties procuring labour resources and additional materials, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors have had a huge impact on the construction sector.
Contractors working on the refurbishment of Splash World have told the local authority that they are facing unforeseen challenges in securing specialist resources.
These delays, which are affecting major projects across the UK, mean the re-opening date for the all-weather indoor water park is now likely to be 2023.
Splash World was temporarily closed for refurbishment in December 2019.
Although work had to be paused as a result of the pandemic, the council was able to use building to create a specialist SMART testing unit for Covid-19, with the centre playing a pivotal role in keeping thousands of residents and key workers safe from potential infection.
Work resumed in Summer 2021.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said:
“Despite a range of nationwide challenges beyond our control, we are making progress on completing the works and welcoming visitors back to Splash World but unfortunately not as quickly as hoped.
“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our thanks to our various teams and contractors, who have been doing their best in difficult conditions to carry out these essential refurbishments works.
“I would also like to thank local residents and the many thousands of people who enjoy Splash World for their patience while this work is carried out and to assure them that we are working to get the centre open as soon as possible for them.”
Opened in 2009, Splash World usually welcomes thousands of families from across the North West of England each year. Features include fast flumes and river rides, a relaxing bubble spa and toddler area and a water play area
In June, Sefton Council committed an extra £270,000 to improving Splash World.
It added to the £1.4million currently being spent on essential repairs. Sefton Council pursued legal action to recover the funds against previous contractors after a series of serious defects were discovered.
The facility was closed in late 2019 due to what Sefton says was “significant Health and Safety concerns”. Defects discovered include a failure in the steel frame coating (paint) system, along with concrete repairs to failed areas of the flume tower staircase. The tiling of the pool wall and floor surfaces also needed replacing.
The new funding will pay for improvements including: new cafe equipment; refurbished toilets, new artificial foliage, electrical works, new pool filters, safety handrail repairs, handrail paintwork, new pool filtration pumps, and a new water play area safety floor.
An announcement about the official re-opening date of Splash World will be made in due course.
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