Recurring concern
Inadequate controls for drowning risks at open-water locations
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Request correctionFirst reported 22 Jan 2014•Latest report 26 Feb 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to preventing, detecting or responding to drowning risks at open-water locations, including management of known water-entry points, barriers, hazard warnings, lighting, access restrictions, water-depth or condition information, rescue access and flotation or other life-saving equipment.
Not included
- Excludes generic premises, park or environmental safety deficiencies that are not specifically connected to drowning risk at an open-water location.
- Excludes watercraft-specific hazards such as stoppers, towbacks or unsafe boating routes unless the assertion concerns the wider drowning-risk controls at the open-water location.
- Excludes ordinary swimming, bathing or water-safety advice where no deficient control for a specific open-water drowning risk is identified.
- Excludes isolated trip, visibility or access hazards that do not materially affect prevention of drowning or access to a person in hazardous water.
- Reports
- 14
- Individual concerns
- 18
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 18
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of means for people to get out of the canal unaided
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Coordinate with the Water Safety Partnership and relevant landowners to identify and discuss potential additional water-safety mitigation measures.
Stated by Canal & River Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Direct action on public-realm water safety risks is limited because the surrounding land is not owned or controlled by the respondent.
Stated by Canal & River Trust
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Concerns raised2
Failure to site throw lines at obvious water entry points
Failure to site water-safety signs close to obvious water entry points
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Install three throwline boards at the agreed locations, including one repositioned nearer likely swimming locations.
Stated by Wigan Borough Council -
Action
Install enlarged warning and prohibition signs covering all viable approaches to Scotman’s Flash.
Stated by Wigan Borough Council
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Concerns raised2
Lack of accessible flotation devices or water-surface platforms for marina self-rescue
Lack of reliable alarm systems activatable from the water
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Revise and update the Code of Practice using information about the drowning, including consideration of water-level devices and alarm methods.
Stated by The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prominently and clearly display water-entry risks and undercurrent and rip-tide dangers
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Review safety signage provision at Burnham-on-Sea Jetty.
Stated by Somerset Council -
Action
Install prominent entrance signage warning of strong currents and drowning or injury risks.
Stated by Somerset Council -
Action
Complete lower-jetty line painting warning against access because of dangerous currents.
Stated by Somerset Council
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Action
Install signage at the Jetty, including top-of-jetty signs and line markings on the tarmacked surface.
Stated by Somerset Council
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient length of ropes attached to life-saving rings for reaching the water at low tide
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Increase the ropes on all life-saving rings to 50 metres.
Stated by Eastbourne Pier
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Concerns raised2
Failure to manage known water-entry locations and rope-swing access hazards
Lack of information about varying and sudden changes in water depth
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Install additional unlocked throw lines and accompanying safety signage near the high-water mark at Locations 5 and 7 and other previously affected locations.
Stated by Forest of Marston Vale Trust -
Action
Issue warm-weather warnings about lake access dangers to local schools for dissemination to pupils.
Stated by Forest of Marston Vale Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
The Trust considers its existing risk assessment and safety arrangements suitable and sufficient to address drowning risks.
Stated by Forest of Marston Vale Trust
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Position
Existing no-swimming and hidden-hazard signage is considered preferable to signs identifying individual deep-water areas.
Stated by Forest of Marston Vale Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of access ladders or a refuge area for people in the water
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Statutory health and safety enforcement for dock premises falls outside the council’s powers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Stated by Cornwall Council
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Position
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for statutory enforcement concerning safety at the harbour’s dock premises.
Stated by Cornwall Council -
Position
HSE has no regulatory powers over harbour areas without work activity or risks increased by festivals and other public events.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Concerns raised1
Lack of signs identifying the stream, its depth and warnings of danger
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Install New River Path warning signage beside the location 1 kissing gate.
Stated by Thames Water Utilities Limited
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Lighting and signage at the stream and venue are matters for the relevant landowners, not Network Rail.
Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited
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Position
Lighting along Network Rail’s fence line will not be provided because Network Rail policy does not require it.
Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to protect deep water channels from falls
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Add fence returns, mesh infills, warning signs, internal barriers, secure gates and practicable channel covers to deter unauthorised access.
Stated by Yorkshire Hydropower Limited -
Action
Install galvanised steel fans and associated fencing to block access routes around the outlet channel, fish pass, downstream outlet and escape ladder.
Stated by Yorkshire Hydropower Limited
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Foresight disputes having controlled Yorkshire Hydropower Limited’s operations or constrained its director’s decisions regarding site safety.
Stated by Foresight Group
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Position
Operational and safety decisions, including preventing recurrence, are the responsibility of Yorkshire Hydropower Limited rather than Foresight.
Stated by Foresight Group -
Position
Covering the channels is not reasonably practicable because flooding, debris, maintenance access and potential escape hazards would introduce greater risks.
Stated by Yorkshire Hydropower Limited
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Concerns raised2
Lack of safety warnings about unseen cold-water and water-flow hazards
Unavailability of water-rescue aids at incident scenes
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026