CHILDREN in Milford Haven are being sent to the town's paddling pool without food, a drink or a towel, councillors were told last week (March 14).

At a meeting to discuss the future of the Rath pool, a town council committee heard from James Walters, manager of the Meads Leisure Centre.

Mr Walters was there to provide figures on how many people use the free paddling pool over the summer months.

"We had 800 visitors last year, which works out at about £4.52 a swim," he said. "That's quite expensive."

But, Mr Walters added: "I am convinced they are using the pool because they cannot afford to use the Meads.

"There were kids last year who didn't even have a towel to dry themselves.

"My daughter had to share her chips with two children who did not have anything to eat at all.

"There are kids turning up and you think 'have you had breakfast?'"

Mayor Cllr Rose Gray said it was important the council knew about these issues.

"If we do not know there's nothing we can do," she said.

She proposed talking to groups who run breakfast clubs, to see if they could be linked with the pool's opening times.

"I know there was one locally last year which wasn't very well-attended, maybe moving it to the pool would help take the stigma away of asking for help."

Milford Haven Town Council has been responsible for funding the paddling pool since county council funding cuts in 2017 threatened it with closure.

Last year the bill of around £5,000 was paid for jointly by the town council and Nantucket Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

But at Thursday's meeting, deputy mayor Terry Davies proposed the council take on full financial responsibility for the coming year.

The council set aside £3,000 in January's precept and the remaining money will come from reserves.

Cllr Gray thanked Nantucket for all its support in 2018.

All information and proposals will go forward to Monday's town council meeting at 7pm.