Harbour Council ‘looking into’ lifting of swim ban
ABAN on swimming in Bristol Harbour could eventually be lifted – but not anytime soon.
Bristol City Council says it is“looking into” how the harbour could potentially be opened for “safe and managed swimming”
However, the council has stressed that swimming in the waters is still incredibly dangerous and remains prohibited.
The news comes as a group of wild swimmers held its latest protest against the swimming ban on Friday – although they didn’t get into the water.
The group is led by businessman Johnny Palmer, who says Cumberland Basin could be safely used for swimming under controlled conditions.
Mr Palmer told a crowd of around 50 people who gathered at Cumberland Basin on Friday morning: “The idea is that we don’t swim this morning – we use that as part of a story that we respond to our environment and then they are going to make a time and place that we can swim.
“It is that disrupting curve of activism, getting them to engage and that is a positive move forward.
“If they then don’t engage with us and give us a time to swim, we then jump in the harbour again.”
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Swimming in the harbour is not allowed and carries with it a serious risk of injury or death. As a working harbour there are numerous risks to anyone entering the water.
“These include cold water shock, the movement of boats and other activities on the surface and many hidden dangers below the water line.
“We urge anyone who thinks that swimming in the harbour is a good idea to reconsider their actions and recognise the dangers involved.
“We are looking into how we could potentially introduce safe and managed swimming in the harbour and are making contact with organisations and authorities across the UK to understand what is possible.
“It’s important that we understand the safety measures that are employed by groups and authorities elsewhere to ensure that future harbour swimming takes place safely.
“This is a work in progress and we have offered to include interested parties in these discussions to inform a local plan.
“It’s important to stress however that these discussions are ongoing and swimming in the harbour remains dangerous and prohibited.
“No trial swims have been offered nor will any be considered whilst we continue to research the measures needed to ensure these can be carried out safely.”
Earlier this month, tragedy struck when a man died after entering the waters at Narrow Quay.
Harry Awramenko, Group Manager at Avon Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Bristol harbour, and the surrounding waterways, are incredibly dangerous.
“Over the past two years we’ve responded to over 70 water related incidents in Bristol alone and sadly 26 of those resulted in serious injury or death.
“As emergency services continue to see increasing amounts of pressure, we discourage swimming in the harbour to avoid further water-related incidents that could have been avoided and ensure that we can respond to those in need of our services.”