As the summer holidays approach, community safety chiefs are once again warning parents and young people about the risks of unsupervised swimming in the borough’s ponds, canals and lakes.
Following the tragic deaths locally last year of two young people in open water, the Wigan & Leigh Community Safety Partnership is putting up warning signs at scores of potential danger spots around our borough.
Campaign leaders Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have also added water safety to their regular in-school education sessions, and are reminding children and young people under the age of 16 that they can swim for free at any public pool (see Borough's BEST making a splash).
Neil Gaskell, Station Commander at Wigan Fire Station said: “Parents, please make sure you know where your children are this summer. Most people who drown in open water are good swimmers.
“Make sure they are aware of the dangers and if you see them heading out with a towel under their arm, check they’re going to a proper swimming pool.”
Stay onside with canalside sessions
Wigan Council’s outdoor education team is running its popular programme of canal-side activities in the summer holidays.
The fire service-backed scheme gives young people the chance to develop canoeing and kayaking skills, as well as reinforcing the water safety messages. More than 30 supervised sessions will be held across the borough. Anyone between the ages of 11 to 21 can take part in the free scheme, with those under the age of 16 needing a consent form, completed by their parent or guardian prior to taking part. For more information and to book a place, telephone 01942 769812.
G.M. Fire and Rescue water incident team
- July: 1.30 – 3.30pm (unless stated):
Monday 21st, Wigan Pier; Tuesday 22nd, Pennington Flash; Wednesday 23rd, Dover Lock, Abram; Thursday 24th, Crooke; Friday 25th, Scotman’s Flash Water Fest (10am- 3.30); Saturday 26th, Scotman’s Water Fest (10am-3.30); Monday 28th, Plank Lane; Tuesday 29th, Ince; Wednesday 30th, Top Lock, Aspull; Thursday 31st, Beech Hill.
- August (all 1.30-3pm):
Friday 1st, Pennington; Monday 4th, Pennington; Tuesday 5th, Dover Lock; Wednesday 6th, Dover Lock; Thursday 7th, Crooke; Friday 8th, Top Lock; Monday 11th, Wigan Pier; Tuesday 12th, Ince; Wednesday 13th, Ince; Thursday 14th, Plank Lane; Friday 15th, Plank Lane; Monday 18th, Beech Hill; Tuesday 19th, Beech Hill ; Wednesday 20th, Wigan Pier; Thursday 21st, Pennington; Friday 22nd, Pennington; Monday 25th, Dover Lock; Tuesday 26th, Ince; Wednesday 27th, Wigan Pier; Thursday 28th, Top Lock; Friday 29th, Crooke.
