A resident living by one of London’s most popular lidos is sounding the alarm over a potential public safety crisis this summer.
Thousands flock to Ruislip lido every summer as they seek a beach experience within the city on a hot summer day. However, many are unaware that swimming in the West London lido is banned, and local people say the crowds are putting them at risk with illegal parking and blocking emergency access.
Hillingdon Council has been accused of negligence over its management of the lido, which is promoted as a “secret beach” suggesting you can swim. Despite the site having a few small signs advising against swimming, people routinely miss or ignore the warnings and enter the water anyway.
Carolyn Towner has lived in a cul-de-sac near the lido for 25 years. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It’s astonishing… they basically have been playing Russian roulette with the lives of both the residents and the visitors because there’s nothing in place to manage the place safely when it’s busy.”
Ruislip Lido is only accessible via a single cul-de-sac, home to around 35 properties. On hot days, hundreds of cars bring traffic to a complete standstill, turning a drive which usually takes one minute into one that takes 45.
Additionally, many park on the cul-de-sac. Carolyn is deeply concerned about the risk this poses to local residents and those going to the lido.
She told the LDRS that she and her neighbours are worried that should one of them need support from emergency services, they would not be able to get through the logjam of parked cars and “beachgoers”.
However, it isn’t just the residents Carolyn worries about. She said: “What would happen if there was an incident. I mean, God forbid, like a terrorist incident or something… If there’s a mass panic and you’ve got no stewards, no staff, no marshalling, everybody’s trying to get out through one narrow path.”
According to Carolyn, the lido only has a single manager typically working 9am to 5pm, and a few litter pickers. For a site which during a heatwave can accommodate hundreds of people, the lack of a lifeguard and what she feels is general understaffing amounts to “negligence” in Carolyn’s view.
The issue is heavily driven by viral social media posts and the council’s own promotion of the lido as a “beach”, complete with a pirate ship playground. This falsely implies a safe seaside environment, encouraging visitors to swim in unsafe water, Carolyn says.
For local residents, the summer months bring total misery. To avoid paying the council’s £16.90 parking fee at peak times, visitors routinely park illegally across private driveways, sometimes reportedly becoming abusive when asked to move. Anti-social behaviour continues deep into the night, with visitors bringing sound systems and barbecues onto the beach and waking residents at 3am, locals claim.
Carolyn says the council has claimed they “can’t afford” night security to manage the ongoing disturbances. She added: “It’s a nightmare. It’s just an absolute nightmare. The traffic is appalling. The parking is appalling…
“We feel like prisoners in our own homes… I’ve said to people, I just want to enjoy a summer before I die.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked Hillingdon Council:
- How can the council guarantee emergency access and safe evacuation? Why hasn’t a site specific risk assessment been published?
- On what basis does the council feel the current staffing levels are adequate?
- Will the council stop promoting the lido as a beach, and undertake a widespread public safety campaign to advise against swimming?
The council declined to comment because “a full response will be provided at council next week, and we can’t pre-empt the Cabinet Member’s reply.”
Hillingdon’s Full Council will convene on Thursday, July 9, at 7.30pm.
Why isn’t it safe to swim?
Swimming is prohibited at Ruislip lido for a number of reasons. Blue-green algae is present which can be toxic to people and pets. Cold water shock means there is a drowning risk while the depth of the water changes and is unpredictable.
Underwater objects and hazards may not be visible, meaning injury or entanglement are a risk. In addition, ‘swimmer’s itch’ can be caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites living in the water.
