| FREEDOM TO ENJOY OPEN WATER | River and Lake Swimming Association | SAFETY THROUGH INFORMATION | |||||
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We have been informed that waters, rivers in particular, are significantly colder this year compared with previous years.
Those new to 'wild swimming' please take care: read the safety instructions, don't just jump in - go in slowly and stay
well within your depth and away from currents until you establish your personal limitations.
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Access to and along inland waters in England and Wales for non powered craft is severely restricted, more limited than for any other country in the World. Access would provide millions of people, (canoeists, anglers, walkers, boaters and other interest groups) with opportunities to recreate near home, with added benefits for public health, education, social cohesion and local economies. Public access to land has been strengthened by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Coastal Access is part of the Marine Bill. Legislation for Public Access to Inland Waters could be on the principles set by the access to water section of the Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2003 and Scottish Outdoor Code. Inland waters are important habitats for flora and wildlife. Legislation supported by an Access Code would highlight environmental responsibilities for sustainable access to maintain and improve bio-diversity. Natural England rejects Voluntary Access Agreements (as do we). They are: (1) Unable to deliver permanent and secure access (2) Unfit to tackle long standing resistance to access (3) Access would be piecemeal, not continuous Please pass this on and encourage as many as possible to sign up. Many thanks Tamsin Phipps - Rivers Access Campaign |
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We liked the useful double-referencing - one by regions and the other by type of swims at a glance (e.g. Paddling; Combined with Cycling; Suitable for Tubing; By Waterfalls). One hundred and fifty of the most attractive swimming venues in the UK are clearly marked on regional maps with clear directions on how to find them. The text is laced with skilfully balanced bits of history, folklore, useful hints and episodes from the author's own experience as he travelled up and down the country gathering the information. The author's literary talent is well matched by his photographic skills. The abundance of excellent photographs make the book particularly attractive and interesting. Last but not least, the book contains dedicated chapters on Ideas for Waterside Games and Activities; Water Fun; Rafts and Boats; Canoe Camping; Riverside Saunas; Wildlife; Water Quality; Swimming Legally and even Waterside Edible Wild Fruits and Vegetables - all of which have new and fascinating information, useful to anyone who is interested in enjoying the outdoors. Our verdict - a truly fascinating book. Congratulations to Daniel on a great achievement.  Photograph by Daniel Start More of his work Wild Swim by Kate Rew is due out at the end of May. More on the OSS website |
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Great Pier Swim - Saturday 27th September This will be the first open water event of its kind to be held in Southend-on-Sea. Havens Hospices have teamed up with the great Southend pier which is the longest in the world, to put on this unique event. The challenge is a 3k open water swim from Southend Pier. For more information or to book visit www.havenshospices.org.uk or call 01702 220356 jcurtis@havenshospices.org.uk This will be a fundraising event for Havens Hospices which incorporates Fair Havens Adult Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice. Fair Havens cares for adults suffering cancer and other life threatening illnesses through its In Patient Unit, Day Care Centre, Community Macmillan team, Hospice at Home and Bereavement Services. Little Havens provides respite and end of life care for life limiting children and their families from across Essex. It will cost nearly £5 million this year to ensure the care continues, with limited government funding. The charity relies heavily on the generosity of the public and businesses through kind donations, fundraising events, charity shops and gifts in wills. The summer season for open water swimming has started in Cork Ireland. The largest swim of the year (400+ swimmers expected) the 'Vibes & Scribes" Lee Swim is open for entries. Details on www.corkmasters.ie The event is a 1.25 mile tidal/river swim through the heart of the City – followed by a great party! PLEASE COME. There is a full schedule of casual and smaller event swims in Cork each year – about 200 each year! All competent swimmers - in just Speedos or in wetsuits are welcome. Very few of the swims cost money or require registration. There are groups of swimmers active in Kinsale, E Cork, Fermoy and W Cork. Go to http://www.corktri.com/mvc.php?message=sis to download schedules. If you are over for business or holiday - send email Ned Denison (ned.denison@cadcoevolution.com) and he will get you connected to the next swim! |
| Organising a swim in your area this summer? Contact us and get it publicised here |
| By Jean Perraton - author of Swimming Against the Stream 
If - as the Environment Agency and RoSPA warn us - rivers and lakes in England are too cold to swim in, you might expect
that no one would be swimming out-of-doors in Scotland. Yet a recent survey by Scottish National Heritage reveals how many
do. A small minority, but not so small as those taking part in several other outdoor activities that are regarded
more favourably by the authorities that encourage us to explore and enjoy the countryside.
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 opened up the countryside to walkers and gave a legal right to people to swim, and to
explore in non-motorised boats, most of Scotland's rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Scottish Natural Heritage now has a
programme of conducting annual surveys of how people use the countryside (see www.snh.org.uk). Unlike similar surveys in
England in recent decades, they are not forgetting to ask questions about wild swimming. The results for 2004/05 showed
that, as we would expect, walking was by far the most popular outdoor activity; 67% of the sample had been walking during
July to September. After that we find, for the same period, 8% had been cycling, 6% had been fishing, and 4% had swam in
rivers, seas and lochs. Twice as many people had been swimming than had taken part in all other watersports and four times
as many as went horse riding!We don't know how many people swim in natural waters south of the border. There are many reasons - not least the legal constraints - why participation could be lower. But the Scottish survey suggests that perhaps wild swimming in England may not be so very different from other water sports, which local authorities and water companies often allow in country parks and reservoirs where swimming is banned, and not so different from horse riding, that local authorities actively promote in their Rights of Way Improvement Plans. But, they don't even ask about the swimmers. [March 2008] |
A campaign was launched recently to co-ordinate the overwhelming local opposition to a proposal by Leeds City Council (LCC) to fence off the river in Wharfemeadows Park, Otley at a cost of £165,000. The decision taken by LCC is based on recommendations made be the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and completely ignores more than 80 years of safe usage by literally millions of visitors. Local residents claim that the proposed fence will disfigure and utterly destroy the unique character of this much loved park. The RoSPA report is characterised by lack of professionalism and a certain amount of arrogance. It relies heavily on the Court of Appeal judgement in the Tomlinson v Congleton BC case which did, indeed, justify the recommended measures. However, in a staggering demonstration of ignorance (or deception) it fails to mention that this judgement was completely overturned by the House of Lords in 2003 - who completely exonerated Congleton Borough Council. The Wharfemeadows Action Group (WAG) were quick to spot the flaws in the RoSPA report and demanded that the LCC scrap their plans which were based on misleading information. Local support was overwhelming and local papers were inundated with letters protesting at the plans. Mel Vasey , the editor of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer said: "The weight of protest against this proposal is greater than on any other issue in the last 15 years. The town is outraged". (See the WAG site for links to numerous other media reports). Despite all that, after a disgraceful pretence at public consultation Leeds City Council at their Executive Board meeting on Wednesday 13th June decided to ignore local opinion and to proceed with fencing off parts of the riverside in Wharfemeadows, Tittybottle and Manor Garth parks. Just for the record: RoSPA is just a charity. It has no statutory powers or special responsibilities. However, as an organisation which enjoys royal patronage they certainly have a moral duty to be respectable and honest beyond any shadow of a doubt. But are they? Click here to find out why RoSPA must be stopped Click here. to read Grumpy's light hearted view of this affair |
There is now little doubt that the attitude of some UK organisation towards
swimming in natural water, inland water in particular, is not only unique - it looks increasingly irrational and obsessive.
Take, for example the following extract from the official website of the Yosemite National Park in the States MORE....
Take, for example the following extract from the official website of the Yosemite National Park in the States MORE....
 'For water safety advice talk to the cool people in swimsuits not to the wet people in grey suits' [Pete Roberts - famous for not being the founder of the RoSPA Admiration Society (RoSPAAS), 2007] Click here to discover how the health and safety merchants manipulate the media. |
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Extracts from the judgement in the Tomlinson v Congleton BC HSE clarifies scope of 'Blue Book' Heath ponds court victory Environment Agency clarifies its attitude to swimming |
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 So who are the Health and Safety Bonkers? Click here to find out. |
Inspired by Janet Smith's book "Liquid Assets", Bob Holman and Dave Pratten from Dorset, decided to do a special lido charity swim for Save the Children. They are aiming to swim a mile in every public open air pool and lido in Britain, raising money as they go along. For updates and news log on to Yahoo Lidos Group and read the posts by Bobholmanlidolidochallenge!
Local authorities, concerned at the rising cost of energy, are looking for savings. With every swim costing on average £5, and being subsidised to the tune of £3.30 (so swimmers only pay £1.70 per swim) they are fully justified in doing so. Among proposals being considered are: lowering the temperature, delaying refurbishment plans and even closure of some of the UK's 5,200 pools. There is of course, as our members are very well aware, a much cheaper alternative to heated pools. It just needs to be permitted! Do we really need to tell Richard Caborne the Sports Minister? Surely in hot weather provision for outdoor swimming, perhaps in depth-restricted areas of lakes could be considered. There'd be no heating bill to pay.
Read about the joy of open air pools in Lidos for cool kids published in the Times on June 18, 2007
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In April 2006 our city council demolished our beloved Seaton Swimming Pool used by many, old and young. We are left with only two council run pools for a population of 250,000 people. Plympton Pool is 25 metres and not easily accessible to some and the other, Central Park was built in the 60s and is becoming ever more run-down. With so many people, clubs, schools etc using the facilities the timetabling is so complicated to negotiate that many people have sadly given up completely and most of us have had to compromise by cutting back. But, when you do manage to find a time to swim it is usually "sardines" and most frustrating. Our city council just seem hell bent on closing things and although we are promised there is a swimming plan it is yet to be put on the table for all to see. Suffice to say a recent report on the state of swimming here sugggested that by the year 2016 we would need to have at least six new 25 metre pools! Although we lost Seaton pool the website and campaign are still very much alive and our local paper is always awash with letters and articles on the problem. But will anyone listen......... Click here for further information. |
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Campaign to re-open Maldon Marine Lake |
Campaign to save Broomhill pool |
Black Park Campaign update - See latest news (May 06) 
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Bury Lake update Following the latest legal clarifications of operators liabilities regarding swimming in open water there is no longer a justification for keeping traditional inland water bathing sites, such as at Bury Lake, Rickmansworth closed to the public. More.. |
Opened in 1938, Broomhill Open Air Swimming Pool has been central to summer leisure activities for many
generations of Ipswichians. The Pool building is one of the most attractive Lido style structures in Britain
The pool is the only Olympic sized open air pool in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and offers the only 5 metre diving
board in the county. In addition to its appeal to recreational swimmers, many local groups have used Broomhill Pool
for a wide range of water sports including Live Saving Training, Canoeing and even Dinghy Sailing.| RALSA is an association of clubs & individuals representing wild swimmers. Membership is free and we make no demands. Please join us to show your support[Click here] |
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Please contact us by emailing to: yacovlev@hotmail.com Media enquiries: 0151 428 3990 (9 till late) 0793 0810 316(M) Postal address: 26 Baroncroft Rd. Woolton Liverpool L25 6EH |
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