YOUNG swimmers across Redditch are being warned to avoid the borough’s weirs and use the town’s swimming pools instead.
And the councillor in charge of community safety has urged children to take advantage of free lessons being offered at the Abbey Stadium.
Coun Yvonne Smith said she had visited the borough’s weirs where new signs and safety devices have been put in place at hotspots to deter fun-seekers wanting to cool off.
The signs instruct no swimming and there’s rescue aids in place and also special co-ordinates on the signs so the emergency services can be called to the danger spots, which are often remote and inaccessible.
Coun Smith said: “Redditch has some beautiful stretches of water which look very inviting – but they have dangerous under currents and can be cold even in warm weather.
“Now we have these signs and safety devices in place to deter people from swimming in unsupervised water. I ask our community to value and safeguard from vandalism this equipment which literally could save lives.
“We have free swimming sessions at our Abbey Stadium for residents aged under 16 so they can have a splash in the summer holidays in safety.”
