Wild swimming to continue at quarry lake near Wareham
Around 100 people had objected to the retrospective planning application
Wild swimming is to be allowed to continue at a quarry lake on the outskirts of Wareham – although the use will be strictly limited and re-assessed in five years’ time.
Town councillors and around a hundred people had objected to the retrospective planning application to Dorset Council which includes the siting of a shipping container for use as a changing room.
Many of the opponents were concerned about the extra traffic and the potential for disturbance to wildlife during the summer-only twice weekly sessions.
Despite the concerns Dorset councillors decided any negative effects were likely to be out-weighed by the benefits of healthy, outdoor, recreation. A consultant’s report had concluded that the effects on wildlife were only ‘slight’.
The Dorset Council planning meeting heard that despite the granting of planning consent for the swimming use at the Swineham Farm site off Bestwall Road, the swims may still be at risk because rights of access along the private bridleway may be contested.
Cllr Alex Brenton said she had joined in one of the sessions, which she enjoyed, telling the committee it was not the place where people came to ‘splash about’ – with all of those taking part being serious swimmers.
The sessions, which have to be pre-booked and pre-paid, are for experienced open water swimmers only with 400m, 700m and 1,400m marked circuits, limited to 25 people for each session. They have been taking place for almost three years.
In a report to councillors planning officers concluded that the use is ‘appropriate’ and small scale in the Green Belt with the shipping container, painted dark green, “small and unobtrusive, having no significant impact on the rural landscape and character of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”
Swimming at the former quarry lake usually starts in the spring when the water temperature is consistently about 12C and finishes at the end of September. Two sessions take place for club members on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Simon Patterson said, as the previous owner of Swineham Farm, that the former quarry site had been designed as a conservation lake with access along a private road which required permission.
“This is a conservation lake and should be treated as such – allowing people to swim in this protected environment flouts the intention of the earlier permission,” he said, claiming the use could generate more than 3,000 vehicles movements over the course of a year.
“If swimming is to be viewed as ‘wild’ and therefore environmentally sustainable, why are so many cars envisaged down a small, private lane and public footpath? Parking elsewhere and riding a bicycle, walking, or even running (from the Rugby Club, or Wareham’s car parks) would generate much needed local income,” he said it a statement.
The car use figures were disputed by Cheryl Weeks, who had made the planning application. She said that with many walking, or cycling and with car sharing, it was likely to only amount to 68 vehicle movements along the lane during an average week during the swimming season.
She also disputed claims that the water could be a health risk saying that it had been tested and had only low levels of bacteria while a bird survey, commissioned by the swimmers, showed no appreciable disruption. She said her own evidence was that birds continued their normal activities even when people were swimming.
Dave Pratten, a retired head teacher and qualified ecologist, said the site did have an approved biodiversity plan and Natural England had raised no objection to the swimming which, he said, improved people’s mental and physical health.
“This is a safe, inclusive place which has built up a strong community of open water swimmers,” he said.
The planning consent includes a condition that swim numbers be limited to 25 for each session and that the portable toilet must be removed from the site outside the swimming season.