Marine lake reopens for summer

Marine Lake in Weston-super-Marel reopen for the summer on Saturday 3rd July after completion of the first stage of a £300,000 project to improve the popular community facility.

The lake has been closed since April to allow high tides to naturally ‘flush out’ as much of the lake’s compacted silt as possible. Two faulty sluice gates were removed to allow the lake to fully drain and diggers were used to churn up the deep layers of silt alongside the causeway to ensure the high tides had the maximum impact on flushing out remaining silt.

The natural tidal flushing has been completed over nine weeks and the lake and causeway have been temporarily closed to the public to protect their safety.

The lake will now be reopened for the busy summer season with work set to resume in the autumn. New orange and white buoys will be used in the lake to mark changes in water depth due to silt removal.

An application for a licence to mechanically remove around 30,000 tonnes of remaining accumulated silt has been submitted to the government's Marine Management Organisation with an outcome expected in the next few months. Cllr Mike Solomon, executive member for neighbourhood and community services said: "Marine Lake was created in the 1920s to ensure that swimming was available throughout the day and not just when the tide is in. Over the years the lake has become silted up and is now almost impossible to swim in. We are in the process of changing that in order to give residents and visitors somewhere to swim outdoors – somewhere for serious swimmers and families alike.

"By successfully flushing out around 10 per cent of the silt naturally, and at minimal cost, means that the amount we’ll need to remove mechanically has been considerably reduced. More of the restoration budget can now be spent on refurbishing and enhancing Marine Lake’s facilities to create a real hub for outdoor swimming and other leisure uses." North Somerset Council’s investment in Weston’s Marine Lake is part of a £700,000 Great Lakes project which will also involve work to revitalise Clevedon and Portishead's coastal lakes.

The council is working closely with newly-established Community Interest Company Weston Marine Lake Mudlarks on the possible long-term maintenance and finance arrangements for the restored Marine Lake. To get involved with Weston Mudlarks go to https://westonmarinelake.co.uk.

Keeping Covid-safe as rules change

Legal restrictions to help reduce the risk of Covid are lifting next week, but with infection rates rising across England North Somerset residents are encouraged to keep working to reduce risks.

Regular and thorough hand washing, wearing face coverings inside where there are a lot of people, and making space where possible are still essential in slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Getting the right test at the right time remains important. Anyone who does not have symptoms will still be able to do free rapid tests twice a week. This is especially important for those in settings such as workplaces or schools where they will be close to others. Find out more by clicking the image above. “Testing in particular is helpful, so if you’re part of a school or cannot work from home, please do your tests twice a week. Many of our school cases have been picked up from the rapid tests.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid must stay at home and get a PCR test straightaway at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. Those who test positive must self-isolate for 10 days.

North Somerset Council Executive member for health, Cllr Mike Bell, said: “Our Covid rates show that the infection is circulating in our community again, and without the legal rules in place to give extra protections we all need to take more care to avoid catching and spreading the disease. “With rising rates doing all we can to reduce the transmission of Covid is more important than ever to protect ourselves and our families.”

Director of Public Health, Matt Lenny, said: “Getting both doses of your vaccination as quickly as possible will offer you good protection from Covid-19, but to make your risk as low as possible you need to keep washing your hands, wearing a face covering when you are inside and close to others, and making space as much as possible. Being outside is safest if you are able, not only because the infection spreads less outside but also because you are more likely to be able to keep your distance from those you don’t live with.

“Covid will not go away quickly and we need to find ways to live with it while keeping ourselves as safe as possible.”

Local Covid vaccination walk-in clinics are up and running, you can find your nearest at www.grabajab.net or book an appointment at nhs.uk/CovidVaccination