RESIDENTS have been warned by chiefs at the Malvern Hills Trust of the dangers of swimming in Gullet Quarry.
With the current hot weather forecast to continue over the coming week, this well-known beauty spot can be tempted to cool off in, despite the many signs which warn the public to keep out.
In the summer of 2013 two young men tragically drowned in the lake in Castlemorton.
Following these fatalities in 2013 the Malvern Hills Trust, formerly the Conservators, commissioned the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to produce a report on safety at Gullet Quarry.
Their report contained a number of recommendations for physical safety measures on site.
As a result MHT has erected fencing, installed new signage and planted thorny vegetation to act as a barrier.
Duncan Bridges, chief executive of the MHT, said: “The majority of fatalities at the quarry have been young men and we know that males between the ages of 14 and 25 are the most likely to come and swim.”
Each year MHT sends letters to schools to encourage them to raise this topic with their pupils and promote water safety.
Mr Bridges added: “RoSPA feel strongly this could help to prevent young people from swimming at places like Gullet Quarry and, as a result, could save lives.”
It is against the Malvern Hills by-laws to ‘bathe in any pond, lake or stream on the Hills where bathing has been prohibited’.
Anyone in breach of this by-law could face police action.
MHT staff and police officers will be regularly patrolling the site to ensure people are staying safe and out of the water.
