A SPLASH pad being created as part of waterpark's new offering has sparked a debate.

SC2, a £15million aquatic centre being built on Rhyl's former skate park, will boast a 1,200-metre square water space, indoor and outdoor flume rides, Tag Active, themed cafes and outdoor splash pad.

Centred around a paddling pool, the splash pad - aimed at young children, toddlers and infants - will be 300mm at its deepest.

Younger children will be able to control water webs and water cascades.

Visitors will be able to access the 'pad' as part of their waterpark ticket but tickets for it will not be sold separately - a fact that has caused a degree of disappointment among residents.

Steve Foxall created a poll and posted on Facebook group Rhyl Forum: "The free kids paddling pool in the nicely equipped playground at Rhos Point was full of children splashing around and having a fun time.

"According to the official SC2 website, the former Rhyl paddling pool - to be known as the 'splashpad' - will only be accessible with full-price SC2 tickets. This might be convenient in terms of management and access controls, but means most local kids will probably only get there once a year if they are lucky, rather than impromptu inexpensive visits whenever the sun shines."

From May 2015, a small fee has been charged to enter the pool.

Lynda Walmsley responded: "I agree it should not be under SC2 tickets."

Ann Jones wrote: "SC2 will be a great addition to the town. I’ve always thought it was a mistake to get rid of the padding pool - it was packed on low tide days and a nice safe place for kids to enjoy," whilst Beverley Vaughan posted: "I loved that splash pool even before it was remodelled and made pretty. I'm actually really really disappointed that they chose to seal it off and cut us off from using it like this.

"I could afford £2 a week easily to take my kids. I won't be able to afford a full ticket price weekly."

Cllr Jacquie Mcalpine, Rhyl Town Councillor, said: "This is an exciting new aqua centre for Rhyl.

"As much as the public and myself would have liked to see a separate entrance for the new splash pad, this is not possible as the splash pad is both an indoor and outdoor splash pad with the option to close off the outdoor part in bad weather, so the younger users can still enjoy the splash pad indoors making it an all year round activity."

When asked by the Journal if there was a chance separate access could be considered, a spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “The splash pad is part of the new offer and only accessible via SC2 ticketing.

“The splash pad will be very different from what was previously the outdoor paddling pool and is part of the whole experience of SC2.

"This has been included in the business case from the start of the project.”