A BELOVED children's pool has been tipped for removal despite widespread public opposition.

When plans to demolish and rebuild the Carnival Pool site surfaced earlier this year, proposals to remove the toddler pool and build one with a moveable floor in its place struck a nerve.

Close to 700 people signed a petition urging Wokingham Borough Council to keep the splash pool.

In a report set to go before the council's planning committee on Wednesday, it is advised the children's area not be included when the leisure centre is rebuilt.

An officer wrote: "The existing splash pool is only in active use at certain times of the day and is generally empty outside those times.

"On its shallowest setting the new, adjustable pool will be able to provide for splash sessions using portable equipment.

"Outside those times it will be able to be used for a variety of other sessions, such as swimming school sessions, aqua aerobics and parent and baby sessions, with the depth varying to meet specific needs.

"This will reduce demand for the main pool thus making efficient use of the facility as a whole."

Alexander Fraser, parent and leader of the splash pool campaign, argued the facilities would be sorely missed.

He said: "My 16 month old son and 12 year old nephew have a lot of fun playing together under the water jets and my son loves the slide.

"I know through using the beach pool he has developed water confidence and he clearly enjoys himself. I always see people with their children in there.

"We live in a borough with 10,000 under fives and to not have a beach pool in the new plans is effectively excluding and ignoring the needs of a large portion of our community from benefitting from the new facility."