22-08-2012, 06:31 PM
Hi All,
Just a quick update the swim on Saturday has been cancelled due to safety fears.
I was doing this for a great cause, due to the cancellation I will now complete the Swim either at Loch Lomond or local swimming pool.
I am more inclined to do it at Loch Lomond in line with the original challenge.
I had a practice run up at loch Lomond last saturday, and what a difference to Strath Clyde Park! Clean water!
I need to confirm date when other swimmers will be going to LL, probably a week on Saturday 1st September.
Kevin
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Dear Kevin Campbell,
We regret to inform you, this weekend’s staging of the Great Scottish Swim has been cancelled. We have made the decision not to go ahead due to concerns over water quality at the venue, Strathclyde Country Park.
The loch has been closed for immersion sports for two months following an outbreak of illness contracted by open water swimmers who took part in an event in June.
As a result of this incident, North Lanarkshire Council, in consultation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Health Protection Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council Environmental Services commissioned a water quality risk management protocol report. This document sets out strict protocols concerning rainfall and river flow and the consequent impact this has on acceptable levels of bacteria in the water.
Although the most recent water quality test results are more encouraging, weather forecast for the event week is unsettled with heavy periods of rain predicted. As set out in the risk management report, this type of weather could push levels of bacteria above the safe limit and put the health of swimmers at risk.
Making the call to cancel the Great Scottish Swim this weekend has been extremely difficult, but the safety of our swimmers and their families remains our main priority. The strict guidelines that are in place mean, for us, there is an unacceptable level of risk. We had hoped to find an alternative venue, and extensive research was done to this end. As we’re sure you can appreciate, an event of this size requires considerable infrastructure which immediately discounted some very good options.
We had identified a promising location with full operational plans in place, but unfortunately, as of Sunday, water quality here has deteriorated also, and it is no longer suitable.
We appreciate the inconvenience and disappointment a cancellation will cause – full refunds will be offered, more details to follow.
Further information is available at the Great Swim website
Best wishes,
The Great Scottish Swim Team
Just a quick update the swim on Saturday has been cancelled due to safety fears.
I was doing this for a great cause, due to the cancellation I will now complete the Swim either at Loch Lomond or local swimming pool.
I am more inclined to do it at Loch Lomond in line with the original challenge.
I had a practice run up at loch Lomond last saturday, and what a difference to Strath Clyde Park! Clean water!
I need to confirm date when other swimmers will be going to LL, probably a week on Saturday 1st September.
Kevin
-----------------
Dear Kevin Campbell,
We regret to inform you, this weekend’s staging of the Great Scottish Swim has been cancelled. We have made the decision not to go ahead due to concerns over water quality at the venue, Strathclyde Country Park.
The loch has been closed for immersion sports for two months following an outbreak of illness contracted by open water swimmers who took part in an event in June.
As a result of this incident, North Lanarkshire Council, in consultation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Health Protection Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council Environmental Services commissioned a water quality risk management protocol report. This document sets out strict protocols concerning rainfall and river flow and the consequent impact this has on acceptable levels of bacteria in the water.
Although the most recent water quality test results are more encouraging, weather forecast for the event week is unsettled with heavy periods of rain predicted. As set out in the risk management report, this type of weather could push levels of bacteria above the safe limit and put the health of swimmers at risk.
Making the call to cancel the Great Scottish Swim this weekend has been extremely difficult, but the safety of our swimmers and their families remains our main priority. The strict guidelines that are in place mean, for us, there is an unacceptable level of risk. We had hoped to find an alternative venue, and extensive research was done to this end. As we’re sure you can appreciate, an event of this size requires considerable infrastructure which immediately discounted some very good options.
We had identified a promising location with full operational plans in place, but unfortunately, as of Sunday, water quality here has deteriorated also, and it is no longer suitable.
We appreciate the inconvenience and disappointment a cancellation will cause – full refunds will be offered, more details to follow.
Further information is available at the Great Swim website
Best wishes,
The Great Scottish Swim Team