The ever present danger of the paddling pool

The MAil Online reports that:

"For nearly a quarter of a century, Lourdes Maxwell has celebrated the arrival of summer by putting a paddling pool in the garden.

This year, however, her two grandchildren and the children of her neighbours may have to find another way to cool off in the heat.

Miss Maxwell's local council has decided that the pool - which is only 2ft deep - needs a lifeguard.

The 47-year-old divorced mother of three has also been told she must have insurance before she can inflate the toy outside her house in Portsmouth."

I actually don't care if the word "lifeguard" was not mentioned or if the need for insurance was not demanded but suggested, there is no reason for a local council to get involved in any way in whether Miss Maxwell has a pool in her garden or not. The neighbours might have complaints about the noise generated by the children in the pool but until that happens the council should butt out.