A lost "tropical" leisure pool that boasted a wave machine and water slide was a staple growing up in nineties and noughties Merseyside.
Four years after ambitious plans were revealed by Knowsley Council, Heatwaves Leisure Centre in Stockbridge Village officially opened on September 8, 1990. The £4.5m complex in The Withens, off Waterpark Drive, was once known for having the "only tropical leisure pool in Merseyside."
Building work began in 1987 and from there the site faced delays and disruptions. But after opening in 1990, Heatwaves quickly became a favourite venue for families.
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The tropical leisure pool itself came complete with a wave-pool, flume, hot water springs, a tropical climate, palm trees and fountains and not only attracted families from Stockbridge Village, but children from across Merseyside. Many will remember its wave pool or queuing for the 200-ft curving water shute, where you could swoop down to a separate pool.
Heatwaves also incorporated a "beach area" for mothers and small children, as well as a toddler’s lagoon. A great venue for a children’s birthday party, staff could arrange times when groups had exclusive use of the facilities, with buffet food being arranged for later.
In 1991, the cost to enter the complex, which also had a gym and other sport facilities, was £2.20 for adults, £1.10 for children and free for senior citizens living within the borough of Knowsley. On its first anniversary, manager John Nelson told the ECHO: "Heatwaves is essentially a leisure pool and not one of the traditional types where serious swimmers go through their paces.
"That is why we welcome whole families. We like to see parents and children splashing about together, enjoying themselve.
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"We want them to play the sort of games they play on the beach during their holidays. We are very proud of our pool. We like to think that everyone who uses it is having a ‘splashing’ time."
The idea for the site came from architects Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, a company renowned for creating landmark buildings and was honoured in the 1991 Royal Institute of British Architects regional awards. In October that year, it was reported that during the summer holidays alone, an average 5,000 people used the site week.
Over the years, many happy memories were made at Heatwaves. The tropical leisure pool for many nineties and noughties kids was unlike anything they'd ever seen and offered something different to traditional swimming facilities.
These images, courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix, show the early days of Heatwaves. You can see staff, some of the first visitors to enjoy the pool and the exterior of the popular site.
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But in February 2004, the Heatwaves complex in Stockbridge Village was forced to shut down after a flood in the plant room. Although much of the centre had re-opened, 15 months later it was reported that the swimming pool remained shut and could stay closed until a council review of leisure services was complete.
At the time, parents in Stockbridge Village raised their concerns and demanded action as they were forced to send their children to Prescot and other areas for swimming lessons. At the time, John Bell, Knowsley Council's director of leisure and community services, said: "The pool at Heatwaves Leisure Centre was closed after a major flood in the plant room which caused more than £500,000 worth of damage.
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"Because of the costs involved, there are no immediate plans to re-open the pool. However, we are looking at wider leisure needs in our communities with a view to providing suitable facilities for the future.
"Aside from the pool, Heatwaves Leisure Centre remains open and fully operational. There are no plans for it to close. Across the borough, we are holding an extensive review of our leisure facilities."
Despite the swimming pool's closure, Knowsley Council's website still said: "The leisure pool is constantly heated to tropical temperatures, it has a fantastic wave machine, a thrilling aquaflume ride, exciting water geysers and a separate toddler's fun pool complete with a set of interactive water toys."
After much consultation on the fate of the leisure centre, the site closed on December 1, 2009. The following year, it was announced that a £25m regeneration of the estate had been given the go ahead, as Knowsley Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved plans to build a huge complex in Stockbridge Village centre to include a "primary school, 20 metre swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and police access point."
Work had already begun to clear the Heatwaves site and prepare the area for redevelopment. It's now been over a decade since we said goodbye to Heatwaves, but it is still part of many childhood memories of people across Merseyside..
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