Weston's Marine Lake to remain closed due to safety concerns

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Marine Lake in Weston-super-Mare is to remain closed following an assessment of the lake's conditions.

Yesterday afternoon a team of volunteers, including from the RNLI and Weston Marine Lake Mudlarks, and council workers carried out a walking test on the lake to establish the density of the silt there and whether the lake could re-open safely. They all very quickly became stuck in the silt.

Cllr Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for Neighbourhood and Community Services, said: “I watched the inspection yesterday and the composition of the silt in the lake has undoubtedly changed. Last week's incident and the tests that we have conducted this week have demonstrated that the conditions have altered in the past four weeks since the lake re-opened. 

"Having seen the conditions just a few weeks ago compared with today I was shocked by the change. We simply can't risk people getting stuck in the silt. Public safety is paramount and therefore, for the time being, the lake must remain closed."

Matt Greatorex from Weston's Coastguard Rescue Team said: "The mud around our stretch of coastline can be extremely dangerous, and with the closure of Marine Lake, we would urge people to take note of the warning signs, and avoid walking through the mud to try and reach the sea at low tide. 

"If you're planning a trip to the seaside, or plan on going for a swim, check the tide times before you set off to ensure you can enjoy the beach and water safely. Inflatable boats and toys are great fun in the swimming pool, but please avoid using them in the sea - currents and tides are very powerful on our beaches, and coupled with an offshore wind they can easily be blown out to sea.

"Keep yourselves and your families safe, and if you see anyone in trouble or find yourself in difficulty on the beach or in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

Cllr Solomon added: "Clearly the closure of the lake at the warmest time of the year is a disappointment. We are now trying to bring forward the work to continue the silt removal at the lake as soon as we can so we can re-open as soon as it's safe to do so."