Call for new toilets at West Country wild swimming spot
Hundreds of people are known to visit Warleigh Weir on a hot summers day
The owner of a popular wild swimming spot near Bath is calling on local politicians to help him get toilets back on site, after a period of hot weather during which hundreds of people have visited every day.
Warleigh Weir just outside Bath is a well known natural swimming spot and is so heavily visited that previously there have been toilets on site.
However, the loos were removed in 2023 after Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council, received a complaint about their cleanliness.
Owner of the wild swimming spot Johnny Palmer explained in a video posted to the Warleigh Weir Facebook page.
He said: “In 2022 and 2023 we had toilets down here which were being paid for by a mixture of the commissions from the food vendors, the donations, and my own personal funds but in 2023 I got a letter from the B&NES environmental health department saying the toilets weren’t clean enough.”
He said that the toilets were being cleaned and emptied weekly which he felt was “sufficient” but the council issued an enforcement notice ordering them to be cleaned daily.
He said: “That’s not sustainable, its not practically possible because of the access, and its not affordable.
“So it turns out that its somehow better — according to the environmental health department — to have no toilets rather than toilets that are cleaned and emptied once a week.
"So unfortunately that is why there’s no toilets down here.”
He added: “I invite the council to get back in contact and agree parameters that are reasonably practical and sustainable from a health point of view, but also to give people the facilities they need in this beautiful spot.”
Tim Ball, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services said: “The toilets are on private land, however last year we received a complaint about overflowing excrement near the water.
"Our officers notified the site owner, who said they would take action. Officers also advised that once-a-week cleaning would not be enough during the summer considering the complaint that was made.”
The Warleigh Island is private property but respectful visitors are permitted to access the land and encouraged to leave a £1-2 donation. Visitors to the site must take their rubbish some with them.
Visitors should also be aware of their safety. Accessing the site means crossing over train tracks where trains travel in both directions and which does not have a level crossing.
There are no life guards and swimmers should be aware of the dangers associated with weirs, where strong currents can hold people under the water even when the water appears calm.