Date published: 2026-07-02 | Category: Bath, public safety
Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Communities said: “ We want to be absolutely clear this is an unauthorised privately owned bathing site. We have serious and ongoing concerns about Warleigh Weir. The site is unmanaged, yet people are being actively encouraged to visit by the landowner, who appears to be hosting events and commercial activities that are drawing increasing numbers of visitors.
“This is deeply irresponsible. The risks are well known. People are crossing a live railway line, accessing the site from a busy A road, and swimming in water that is not monitored or managed. There are no lifeguards and no water quality checks. We have seen incidents like this elsewhere lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
“We have raised these concerns with the landowner repeatedly over a number of years and have tried to work constructively to resolve them. However, the situation remains a matter of serious concern.
“We strongly advise the public to be very well aware of the personal risks they are undertaking when visiting unmanaged sites such as Warleigh Weir. We urge the landowner to take responsibility and stop encouraging people to access his site where there are known safety risks as set out on the Warleigh Weir Facebook page.”