I heard a story last year, that in between the short break when Covid restrictions were relaxed and end of summer, a resident of Abbots Leigh opened their front door to be confronted by two young men. Their question was simple; "Could you please tell us how to get to the swimming lake party? We've been looking for ages and just can't find it".
They were of course referring to Abbots Pool and the extraordinary number of people who, unable to go abroad or to anywhere else, descended upon the lake to enjoy themselves. It got to the point that even the police were reluctant to visit the pool. As we know now this resulted in the Council acting to cordon off the lake and effectively close it to visitors.
To prepare for this summer and to protect the longer term environmental value of the lake last month North Somerset Council introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict swimming, bathing, wading or simply jumping into the pool. The order also prohibits the use of boats, dinghy's, canoes, sailboards or inflatables in or on the water. This PSPO will mean that the Council can act quicker in the event of transgressions.