THE paddling Pool at the edge of Ilkley Moor has been saved from closure after Government safety officials stepped in to reassure Bradford Council.

New safety guidelines published by the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management led to fears that children would have to be banned from entering the pool.

Harrogate had been the latest local authority to follow the example of Leeds and York in closing its municipal paddling pools and Bradford had been expected to follow suit.

Ilkley's is the only council owned paddling pool in the district and its future looked bleak until yesterday.

Countryside officer Richard Perham said earlier this week that the guidelines called for regular cleaning of the water in the pool and chemical treatment as well as supervision and a surrounding fence.

Installing a fence and employing a permanent guard could cost thousands of pounds and chemical treatment of the water was not feasible because the pool is part of a stream constantly flowing through it. Any chlorine or other cleaner would immediately be washed away.

"If these have to be enforced, which I suspect they will, we don't stand a chance," said Mr Perham.

District and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth attended the meeting with officers to assess the situation yesterday.

Before the meeting she said: "It is not looking good at all. It is a prime example of the nanny state. I am not saying a decision has been made but it is all going to have to be considered. We have got to conform with what we get thrown at us."

As part of last year's Ilkley Summer Festival, an open day was held at the paddling pool with fancy dress and pony rides. Both Mr Perham and Coun Hawkesworth said that they would like to see the successful event repeated.

Bradford Council could have ignored the guidelines but officials feared that would have left City Hall vulnerable to compensation claims if any child was injured at the pool.

Coun Hawkesworth said she was exasperated at the amount of new safety advice being published on a whole range of activities: "I don't know how we have all survived, I really don't with all the new safety regulations which have come up - yet we are all here.

"It really is getting ludicrous. I don't think we will be able to comply and we will have to look at its future but I am not giving in without a fight."

Denise Shillitoe, of Ilkley Civic Society said that the paddling pool dated back to the early 20th century at least.

Recently, said Mrs Shillitoe, youngsters have not been using the pool to paddle in but as a pond for their toy boats. She said: "I don't think I have ever seen anyone paddling in it but in some of the early photographs there are hordes of kids paddling.

Mr Perham said that the countryside service had spent a lot of money in the summer repairing the pond and resurfacing the pathway.

After reports appeared in some newspapers mistakenly blaming the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the new safety guidelines, the Government agency issued a statement allowing the council to change its mind and keep the pool open.

According to the HSE, the law requires the council to assess the risks its activities pose to the public and match precautions to the risk identified.

In a statement, Gordon MacDonald, the director of the HSE for Yorkshire, said: "These precautions will vary depending on the nature, location and usage of each pool."

The HSE is going to write to local authorities in a bid to clarify the situation. The HSE is not in the business of stamping out simple pleasures," said Mr Mr MacDonald.

Mr Perham said after the meeting: "A decision has been made to keep the paddling pool open and continue to manage the risks as we always have unless we are instructed differently in the in the future."

Mr Perham said the decision was based on the information provided by the HSE. Bradford Council hopes that further clarification will ensure the long-term viability of the paddling pool.