Reservoir swimming warning amid planned ‘mass swim’ at Swinsty

Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire Fire Rescue Service have warned against the dangers of reservoir swimming in the Harrogate district.

The warning comes amid reports of a ‘mass swim’ planned for Swinsty Reservoir.

In an email to Washburn Parish Council, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the company told the council it had been made aware of a swim in the reservoir this Sunday (April 23).

Yorkshire Water said it would be making its on-site contractors aware of the plan and inform “blue light control rooms and their communications teams”.

It is unclear who has organised the proposed swim or why it is planned to take place.

Meanwhile, both Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have reiterated the dangers of swimming in reservoirs.

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Yorkshire Water estimates 277 accidental drowning deaths took place in reservoirs in 2021, 23 of which were in Yorkshire and five in North Yorkshire specifically.

Swimming is not permitted at the company’s reservoirs.

As a result, the company has backed a campaign by the National Fire Chiefs Council to urge people not to enter reservoirs.

Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: 

“Tragically we’ve already seen the dangers of open water in our region this year. With the weather set to improve we’re expecting to see a rise in people entering our reservoirs, whether that be those intending to swim or people deciding the water looks inviting. We are once again backing the NFCC campaign to raise awareness of the dangers open water poses.

“It is vital those visiting our sites stay out of the water, no matter how tempting it may appear. Cold water shock, undercurrents and operating machinery all pose dangers to people deciding to enter the water.

“If people see others in difficulty in the water, they should contact the emergency services on 999 as they are trained to deal with such events.”

A statement from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“Reservoirs are large, often open areas of water which are used to store water prior to treatment.

“We have several in North Yorkshire and on hot days they often look tempting to cool off with a swim.

“Although they can look like a lovely way to stay cool, please don’t be fooled. They can be extremely dangerous and swimming in them can soon become serious, or even fatal – even if you are a ‘strong swimmer’.

“Within minutes of a swimmer disappearing beneath the surface it is often too late for the emergency services to help – because of the location of most reservoirs, specialist equipment is needed we may need to wait for this to arrive.”

Swinsty Reservoir parking machines approved

A plan to introduce parking charge machines at Swinsty Reservoir has been approved.

Yorkshire Water tabled proposals to Harrogate Borough Council to introduce the machines and automatic number plate recognition cameras at the car park.

The company has also proposed introducing charges at Thruscross and Fewston reservoirs.

Washburn Parish Council and local residents previously raised “serious concerns” about the impact of parking charges on local roads.

However, the borough council has now given the go-ahead for the proposal.

Car park users will be able to pay via card payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.

Emergency services and blue badge holders will be exempt from the charges.

The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3, an all day pass for £5 and an annual pass for £30.

Yorkshire Water said previously that the revenue generated will help to pay for an in-house rangers team, which would undertake maintenance jobs and tackle anti-social behaviour at its sites.

The company said in documents submitted to the authority:

“The car parking itself provides an important functional element to ensure the management of parking to Swinsty Reservoir and the wider area.

“The site is a long-established car park, and it is not anticipated that the introduction of pay and display facilities would generate a greater use of or cause any greater impact than that arising from the current usage of the site by visitors.”

Concerns over impact on residents

But the plans have been met with concern by local residents.

Washburn Parish Council objected to the proposal and said the move would impact on traffic, character of the area and amenities in the area.

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In a letter to the borough council, Dr Jason Knowles, clerk at the parish council, said there was particular concern around parking.

He said:

“There are concerns that the scheme will lead to unsafe conditions on local rural lanes which will result in traffic being unable to move freely and negatively impact on transport connectivity.

“There has been evidence of cars parking on the roadside, on grass verges, residents drives and field entrances during the lockdowns which has led to traffic congestion and making it difficult for emergency vehicles and farmers to access the area.”

Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, has been appointed to operate the parking meters. 

The Stray Ferret asked Yorkshire Water when the parking machines will be installed, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

‘Serious concerns’ over Swinsty Reservoir parking charges plan

Residents have raised serious concerns over plans to introduce parking charges at Swinsty Reservoir.

Yorkshire Water has tabled proposals to Harrogate Borough Council to introduce parking machines and automatic number plate recognition cameras at the car park.

The company also plans to trial charges at Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs in the Harrogate district.

The reservoirs are popular beauty spots that attract numerous visitors and dog walkers.

There are fears the charges would encourage them to park on the roadside to avoid payment and block the route for emergency vehicles.

Similar concerns were expressed during covid lockdowns when the car parks were closed.

Cllr Graham Hebblethwaite, who sits on Washburn Parish Council, said:

“We have very serious concerns because everything is working well at the moment with the car parks.

“If they start to charge, then people may start to park on the road.”

He added:

“The area is open to all walks of life. Peacefulness plays a major part in a lot of people’s lives who are in desperate need of this within the present climate.

“The proposed car parking charges may create more stress. It would be nice if Yorkshire Water, who have made very large profits in recent years recent years, seriously considered the need to charge.”

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Some local residents have written to the council expressing similar fears.

Richard Pullen, who lives in West End, told the authority that the proposal would create “a further divide” between those who live in the area and those who visit.

He said:

“Putting parking meters in will push traffic onto roads causing blockages and damage to the already narrow roads, inconveniencing emergency services, farmers and others who need access.

“It is going to cause a further divide between people that live in the countryside and those visiting.”

Cars parked outside Swinsty reservoir in the first week of lockdown restrictions being eased.

Cars parked outside Swinsty reservoir when lockdown restrictions were eased but the car parks remained closed.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“As we said when we announced our plans to trial the parking charges at Swinsty and other reservoirs, the revenue generated from the parking charges will contribute towards the provision of Yorkshire Water’s first in-house Ranger team. Three rangers will be based in the north area, which includes Swinsty, and so this will be one of the sites they focus on. 

“They will be engaging with visitors helping to reduce the things such as fires and BBQs, swimming, littering, fly-tipping and genera anti-social behaviour. They will also support the maintenance and conservation of the site making repairs, improving wildlife habitats and litter picking. Money from the parking charges will also be reinvested across Yorkshire Water’s sites to deliver nature conservation, countryside management and improvement of facilities at reservoir sites.

“The project is a trial and impacts, if any, of dispersed parking will be monitored and we will keep in regular contact with the Parish Council throughout the trial period.

“As we aren’t responsible for the roads in the area, we are continuing to work with the local council, the Police and Highways England to look at solutions to deter/prevent unsafe and inappropriate parking.

“We are committed to working with key stakeholders to monitor the impact of the parking charges during the trial period including both negatives and positives.”

Those who use the car park will be able to pay via car payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.

Emergency services and blue badge holders will be exempt from the charges.

The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3, an all day pass for £5 and an annual pass for £30.

Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, have been appointed to operate the parking meters. 

Fewston reservoir fly tipper ‘spoils it for everyone’

A fly tipper has dumped several bags of rubbish near Fewston reservoir as more people head out to enjoy the sun and easing of lockdown.

The rubbish was left on Meagill Lane between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. It is unclear who is responsible.

Harrogate Borough Council, which cleans up after fly tippers, is aware and should be sending out a team soon.

Graham Hebblethwaite, chairman of Washburn Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is one of the worst fly tips I have seen in the area. We normally get around three or four bags worth, but this is a lot more.

“There are plenty of ways you can get rid of your rubbish, there’s a recycling centre not too far away so why dump it here?

“When people leave so much rubbish it spoils it for everyone. We try our best to keep the area clean, but people should clean up after themselves.”

Washburn Parish Council has organised a litter pick at 10am tomorrow, but will mainly focus on rubbish thrown out of car windows and dropped on walks.

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Menwith Hill to expand with new ‘golf ball’

Harrogate Borough Council has granted the Ministry of Defence planning permission to build a new 30-metre high radome and electrical substation at RAF Menwith Hill.

It follows an application last year from the MoD to build three more radomes at the site, which was also passed.

There are now over 30 distinctive radomes, or “golf balls”, at the secretive site. The radomes are believed to house satellites and transmitters.

Washburn Parish Council said it was concerned by the expansion, as well as the detrimental visual impact created by the new radome.

However, it said it “recognises the important security roll” that Menwith Hill plays.

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In granting the application, council case officer Mike Parkes said the national security benefits of the radome outweighed its “harmful effects” on the Nidderdale landscape.

Built in the 1950s on the edge of Nidderdale, Menwith Hill is the United States’ largest overseas surveillance base.

Since 2000, protestors have taken part in a weekly demonstration outside Menwith Hill, which has been halted due to lockdown.

Sarah Swift, from the Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign group, said:

“We find the expansion of the site and of the base’s operations very worrying indeed.

“We believe that the activities of the base do not enhance the security of our area, our country or our world.”