As the quarrying industry works its way through the country’s minerals resources, it leaves an ever increasing number of cold dangerous bodies of water in its wake. As our planet overheats, such bodies of cold water will become ever more attractive to young people as places to cool off.
It’s a problem recognised by the Mineral Products Association. According to the trade body, "eight people drowned in quarry lakes in 2018, the majority of these were young males in disused quarries". The MPA – which represents Aggregate Industries and others – has urged its members to be alert as temperatures rise:
#StaySafe during this hot weather by staying out of quarries. MPA urges all operators to check their fencing, signage, safety devices and security arrangements at both operational and non-operational sites. #StaySafeStayOutOfQuarries https://t.co/lTk0HP4w5W pic.twitter.com/CpHsOSaXhF— MPA Mineral Products (@MineralProduct) July 24, 2019
Nigel Jackson, chief executive officer of the MPA, said:
Whilst the hot weather and school holidays are a time for fun and relaxing with the family, I always dread hearing reports of a young man or child missing in an active or, most frequently, a disused quarry lake.
Just this week, a newspaper reported Safety fears after children were filmed diving in to water at a Stirling quarry. A councillor commented:
I have asked Patersons to put in place urgent and robust security to ensure there is no risk to the public. I have no doubt that Patersons have made significant profits from the quarry, so it’s incumbent on them to ensure that the site is safe.
This is a company that has – according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency – "repeated non-compliance with a number of permit conditions." A spokesman for Patersons unhelpfully remarked – somewhat in contrast to the MPA, which has apparently been seeking assistance from newspapers in an effort "to help educate the public":
We have no comment to make. We do not make comments to newspapers. We are aware of the situation and are dealing with it.
In the South West, meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police and Imerys Minerals are urging people to stay away from the region's china clay pits.
Last year, we posted ‘Hundreds risk lives swimming in AI quarry’.
