Harbour swim ban Council calls on campaigners to stop protests
COUNCIL chiefs have told campaigners calling for swimming to be allowed in parts of Bristol’s Floating Harbour to stop staging ‘Splash Mob’ events which involve dozens of people breaking the ban.
Bristol City Council said it is considering the question of whether swimming can be allowed in the city’s docks, but has demanded the campaign group Swim Bristol Harbour stop the mass byelaw-breaking events to give it time to consider the issue.
In a letter exchange between Jon James, the head of service for the council department that manages the Floating Harbour, and Johnny Palmer, the leader of the Swim Bristol Harbour group, the council said the total ban on swimming would remain.
The campaigners have been staging a series of what they call ‘Splash Mob’ events, which see as many as 30 or more people go for a swim in the Cumberland Basin, starting in May this year.
Bristol’s Harbour Master has warned those taking part that they are breaking a byelaw which bans swimming in the docks, and they could be liable for a £1,000 fine.
At a recent event, the Harbour Master and his staff said the Basin had flood prevention gates on, which were creating dangerous currents.
“There was a concern that if the Harbour Master’s staff had not intervened, this could have resulted in a significant injury to yourself or members of your group,” the council said.
But those leading the Swim Bristol Harbour campaign said they will continue to stage the swimming events, and have asked the council for more clarity on how it is considering the question.
Those behind the campaign said the rise in popularity of Wild Swimming in Britain has raised the question of whether or not a part of Bristol’s Floating Harbour could be set
aside for swimming, given the improving quality of the water there over the past few years.
They have pointed to places like Copenhagen, where a wild swimming area is cordoned off in the city’s waterway, and has become a popular tourist and leisure attraction.
But Bristol City Council has remained resolute in its longstanding
ban on swimming in the harbour, pointing to the dangers involved, and the fact the waterway is still a working harbour with boats and complex tidal and river flow arrangements.
The letter from the council to Mr Palmer said: “In the past two years there has been over 70 waterrelated incidents in Bristol alone, and sadly 25 of those resulted in serious injury or death. Therefore I hope you can understand why we are not permitting swimming until we have fully assessed what measures we need to put in place to safeguard users.”
The council chiefs said they are consulting with other organisations with an interest in the harbour, as well as other local authorities that have considered the question before, to find out what lessons they have learned about it.
“To allow us to fully consider the use of the harbour for swimming we are consulting with a number of organisations and local authorities to fully understand what others
have in place and what they have learned in allowing access to the water in a working harbour setting.
“This process will take several weeks and once concluded the appropriate decision-making pathway must be followed.
“If officers are to recommend that swimming can take place in the harbour, it must be demonstrated that all necessary safeguards are in place, which can facilitate safe access to the water,” the letter added.
Mr Palmer said his group would continue to stage ban-breaking swim events, and added that he thought the issue would end up in court.
“We are keen to work with you to implement swimming in some capacity,” he told council chiefs.
“Notwithstanding our imminent collaboration, I sense it is likely that this will end up in a magistrates, and higher, court, including a court of appeal and at considerable expense to your department.”
If officers are to recommend that swimming can take place in the harbour, it must be demonstrated that all necessary safeguards are in place, which can facilitate safe access to the water
Council letter