Council reveals why swimming is STILL banned at Sheffield park in fresh warning

Swimmers have used Crookes Valley Park in Crookesmoor for years, with dozens of recreational plungers sometimes enjoying a dip on hot summer days.

However, signage put up by Sheffield Council clearly states that swimming is forbidden at the site, advice that the Town Hall bosses reiterated today.

A spokesperson said they did consider allowing swimmers to use the lake, but had decided it was too dangerous.

They said: “We have considered whether we can allow open water swimming in Crookes Valley lake, taking advice from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, the Water Safety Forum and Health and Safety officers.

“There are many risks that mean the lake is not suitable for casual swimming, including water quality and testing, the depth at around 30ft in the centre, unknown objects under the surface, cold water temperatures and very limited views from the main road that could delay reporting of incidents.

“We do not want to give people the false impression that the lake is a safe place to swim. Signage is in place to remind people and our staff do inform users against it, but without a continuous presence on site it is difficult to prevent people entering the water.

“For their own safety, we advise everyone not to swim in the lake. For those who want to swim in the great outdoors take a look on The Outdoor City website for the best local spots to take a dip.”

However, despite Sheffield Council’s advice, the sport is so popular at the park that Facebook groups have been set up online with thousands of members.

Dozens of reviews have also been left on the tourism review site TripAdvisor, with some commenters even saying the lake is used during the winter months as well.

The lake itself was formed by a dam that was originally built by Sheffield Council in the 18th Century to store water for the growing city.

It is believed to have been used for swimming since around 2016.

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