Safety improvements planned for Swanholme Lakes – City of Lincoln Council

City of Lincoln Council is to carry out a series of safety-enhancing initiatives at Swanholme Lakes over the coming winter months, following the tragic deaths of two teenage swimmers earlier this year. The measures are designed to discourage access to the water and make it even clearer that swimming is not permitted at the site. They build on the range of interventions introduced over the summer, including additional signage, installation of water safety equipment and the deployment of safety wardens.

Work will include planting gorse and bramble on some of the sandy bank areas, making these areas less attractive as informal ‘beaches’ while retaining views across the water. The council also plans to discuss with Natural England the possibility of using a clay substrate to make sandy areas within the council boundary less inviting for recreational use.

The existing fencing will continue to be maintained and strengthened, and a bid has been made to DEFRA for funding to extend the fencing in selected places around the lakes and provide a more effective long-term barrier. The council is also considering installing palisade fencing on some slopes leading down to the water to further restrict access. The site's topography may make installation challenging, so the viability of this option will be confirmed once a contractor has assessed the location.

Further signs will be installed reminding visitors that swimming is prohibited and asking people to keep dogs out of the water. The city council is also working with partners to get the message out across the city’s schools, starting early next spring, about the dangers of swimming in open waters once temperatures begin to rise again.