Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Haysden Country Park Water Safety Strategy

Revision 2 Jan 2011

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HAYSDEN COUNTRY PARK

WATER SAFETY STRATEGY

Prevention of Unauthorised Use of the Waters

Page 1.0 Introduction 2

1.1 The Site 2 1.2 Site History 2 1.3 Staffing 2 1.4 Public Use 2 1.5 Sporting Activities 3

2.0 Legal Considerations 3 2.1 Common Law Duty of Care 3 2.2 Statutory Requirements 3 3.0 Risk Assessment 3 4.0 Risk Control Measures 4 4.1 Planting 4

4.2 Vegetation Control 4 4.3 Signage 5 4.4 Literature Distribution 6 4.5 Educational Awareness 6

4.6 Rescue Equipment 6 4.7 Emergency Plan 7 4.8 Staffing/Enforcement 7 4.9 Other Considerations 7

5.0 General Health and Safety Issues 7 6.0 Monitoring/Inspections 7 7.0 Incident Reporting 8 8.0 Action Plan 9 9.0 Review 12 Appendices 1- 4 13

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1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Site 1.1.1 Haysden Country Park (HCP) covers an area of approximately 65 hectares

(165 acres) in the Medway Valley, to the west of Tonbridge. It includes a range of habitats such as river, grassland, freshwater lakes, marshland and woodland. Part of the site is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. The Park also encompasses a stretch of the River Medway, which does have implications to the provision of rescue equipment (see sub-section 4.6).

1.2 Site History 1.2.1 The Park covers an area of former agricultural land on the Medway Flood

Plain. The Park contains part of the straight mile, and the stone lock, constructed in 1830 as part of the unsuccessful Medway Navigation Channel. More recently the site had been used for sand and gravel extraction, which was processed and distributed from Haysden Water. These works altered the landscape of the area and created Barden and Haysden Lakes. Once the gravel workings were completed, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) created the Country Park. The site was officially opened in October 1988.

1.2.2 Since 1988 the Council has managed the Country Park to a high standard,

achieving a ‘Green Flag’ award in 2006. 1.2.3 To date the park has had no significant problems with unauthorised use of

its water bodies (unauthorised swimming etc). 1.3 Staffing 1.3.1 Currently the Park is managed by TMBC Leisure Services. General

maintenance of the site is carried out by KCC Landscape Services and includes grass cutting, cutting back, litter picking and play facility inspection.

1.3.2 A Ranger has recently been employed to patrol the Park and Tonbridge

Racecourse Sportsground. This role increases the overall safety by having a ‘staff presence’. Duties include liaising with the public and general minor works at the site. The Ranger’s rota currently includes weekends and some evenings and extends to a 30 hour week during the summer and 20 hours in the winter months.

1.4 Public Use 1.4.1 The public currently utilise the Park for informal recreation and it is a popular

site for walkers, dog walkers and family trips out.

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1.5 Sporting Activities 1.5.1 Several sporting activities take place in the Park. These include:

a) Sailing b) Open Water Swimming (regulated triathlon training) c) Angling

1.5.2 TMBC regulates these activities through external bodies/groups which are

subject to formal agreements. 2.0 Legal Considerations 2.1 Common Law Duty of Care 2.1.1 Under common law the Council recognises that it has a ‘duty of care’ to

members of the general public visiting the Country Park. 2.1.2 The ‘duty’ specified is to take ‘reasonable’ care, and this can be defined as

“what the reasonable person would have foreseen as being necessary”. A certain level of risk is acceptable and it is expected that safety measures will be applied ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’.

2.2 Statutory Requirements 2.2.1 The general principles of the common law duty of care are also reflected in

statutory duties. Public safety at water sites is a statutory duty placed on the operators (TMBC) in so far as they have effective control of the site.

2.2.2 The following legislation will be taken into consideration:

a) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 b) The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 c) Occupiers Liability Act 1957 d) Public Health Act 1936

3.0 Risk Assessment 3.1 The purpose of the Risk Assessment is to:

a) ensure that potential safety problems are properly understood b) check whether existing control measures are adequate c) reduce risk to an acceptable level or identify whether more needs to be

done; and d) prioritise unacceptable risks identified in this way for further action

3.2 A detailed Risk Assessment has been carried out for the ‘Unauthorised Use

of the Waters at Haysden Country Park’ [Appendix 1]. The Risk

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Assessment was carried out in liaison with the Council’s Health and Safety Officer.

3.3 Further to this Risk Assessment an independent ‘Water Safety Review’ was

commissioned. This review was carried out in August 2006 by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and brought forward specific recommendations for consideration at HCP. A copy of those recommendations can be found at appendix 2.

3.4 The RoSPA report highlighted specific recommendations for the Park, and

these are detailed in sub-section 4. 4.0 Risk Control Measures 4.0.1 The following risk control measures have been determined in response to

the Risk Assessment and the Water Safety Review. Where a specific recommendation has been brought forward from the RoSPA report, these are shown in Bold Italics. All of the recommendations below have been taken forward and identified in the action plan highlighted at sub-section 8.

4.1 Planting 4.1.1 Where necessary to prevent the public from accessing an area a ‘natural

barrier’ between land and water can be formed by planting hostile vegetation along an edge of the embankment.

4.1.2 Current provision has been deemed satisfactory by RoSPA and monitoring

will take place to ensure existing ‘edge protection’ is maintained. 4.2 Vegetation Control 4.2.1 ‘Where the edge gradient conforms to 1:3 it is recommended that the

vegetation along side the lakes be allowed to grow creating a natural 1-metre barrier of unstrimmed planting.’

4.2.2 To discourage access to the water edge vegetation ‘margins’ are being

allowed to establish where appropriate. During the summer months, when the potential for unauthorised use of the water is at its highest, cutting of bank vegetation will not occur.

4.2.3 If it is necessary to carry out any work to bank side vegetation, this will be

carried out during the autumn, winter or spring with the following exceptions:

a) Maintenance to areas required for the safe operation of the on-site sporting concessions, including angling, swimming and sailing.

b) Work required for the health and safety of the general public.

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4.3 Signage 4.3.1 ‘It is recommended that multi signs are positioned at the main car park

entrances to the site.’ 4.3.2 Multi signs should indicate safety messages relating to the danger of the

water, including:

• Your location • Do not enter the water • No swimming • Keep children under supervision • Actions to be taken in an emergency • Example of safety signage to be found at the location • Location of nearest telephone

4.3.3 The Council will install appropriate multi signs at the main car parks (Barden

Lake car park, Haysden Water car park and Audley Rise car park). 4.3.4 Nag signs (signs repeating key safety information in strategic places) have

been erected within the Park and repeat key information that is featured at the main entrances. These signs are to be repaired/replaced as necessary.

4.3.5 All sign locations have been selected in liaison with the Borough Council’s

Health and Safety Officer following a tour of the site. 4.3.6 ‘It is recommended that space be provided for the positioning of

temporary notices such as ‘Danger – Ice take care!’ – ‘Footpath and surrounds flooded- take care!’

4.3.7 Temporary signage will be stored on site and be installed as conditions

dictate. 4.3.8 ‘Additional ‘deep water’ pictograms should be positioned where

necessary’ 4.3.9 ”Deep water” pictograms to be incorporated on all nag signs in identified

locations. 4.3.10 ‘It is recommended that you position signage where people leave your

site to enter the Environment Agency land – warning of the dangers of the ‘Deep Water’ around the flood defence barrier.

4.3.11 This sign will be installed and the Environment Agency made aware. 4.3.12 All new signage (and when replacing old signage) will conform with BS 5499:

2002 Part ii Water Safety Signage.

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4.4 Literature Distribution 4.4.1 The Council is developing a generic water safety leaflet which will be

available at the Park. Information will include incident statistics and specific dangers relating to open waters.

4.4.2 These leaflets will be specifically distributed to members of the public who

engage in unauthorised activities, and copies can also be collected from leaflet racks at the main entrance to the Park (within the main car park). Leaflets are placed in the racks on high-risk days when weather conditions increase the risk of unauthorised use.

4.4.3 Consideration has been given to leaflet distribution to local households and

it is the intention to distribute water safety information in the Council’s “Here and Now” magazine which is distributed to all Borough households.

4.5 Educational Awareness 4.5.1 It is intended to add water safety information in the Council’s “Here and

Now” magazine. 4.5.2 Water safety information is to be included within the Council’s ‘Activate’

brochure on an ongoing basis. This publication has a distribution of 20,000 copies and is circulated to every pupil of each school within the Borough; the target audience of these publications is 5 – 16 years. Two separate brochures are produced and circulated in March and May.

4.5.3 A designated water safety web page within the Council’s main web site is

being produced. Advisory information, written and pictorial, is to be displayed on this page. Site Specific water safety strategies will also be available on this page in due course.

4.6 Rescue Equipment 4.6.1 At present selective rescue equipment is located along the River Medway at

the Country Park for public use. Following the site assessment carried out by RoSPA it is proposed to maintain the existing level of provision, and there is no requirement to extend the provision.

4.6.2 RoSPA explained that life rings are not recommended for water bodies such

as the lakes within the park but can be of use alongside a river. 4.6.3 Rescue equipment is checked twice a week with any issues/problems

reported to Leisure Services.

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4.7 Emergency Plan 4.7.1 In the event that an incident does occur at Haysden Country Park an

‘Emergency Action Plan’ needs to be in place to advise the correct procedure to follow.

4.7.2 An Emergency Action Plan has been developed in liaison with HSO and is

shown at Appendix 3. 4.8 Staffing/Enforcement 4.8.1 For current staffing levels please refer to sub-sections 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 4.8.2 The provision of new bylaws to cover the Park is currently being considered

and will need to address the issue of non- authorised swimming. 4.9 Other Considerations 4.9.1 ‘It is strongly recommended that you write to the Environmental

Agency (E.A) about the state of their signage around the flood barrier which is seriously vandalised and in poor repair’

4.9.2 Correspondence about this issue has been sent to the EA. A further letter will be sent highlighting that it is now included in the Councils Water Safety Strategy for the Park, and that ROSPA have highlighted the issue during a site visit.

4.9.3 When necessary, carry out audits/inspections of all bridges with the relevant

owners (mainly Kent County Council). 4.9.4 Periodically, carry out inspections of the existing culverts and pipes. 5.0 General Health and Safety Issues 5.1 The RoSPA report also highlights some general health and safety issues

and, where specific actions have been recommended, these have been taken forward and reflected in the Water Safety Action Plan at sub-section 8.0.

6.0 Monitoring/Inspections 6.1 It is recognised that all advisory signage on site must be maintained to a

sufficient standard, so that the public are able to clearly view them. Advisory signage is included within regular inspections of the site.

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7.0 Incident Reporting 7.1 All reported incidents within the Park are recorded and are used to inform

future decisions regarding unauthorised use of the waters. An example of an Incident Report Form is shown at Appendix 4.

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8.0 Action Plan

Action Strategy Reference

No.

Implementation Date

Notes

Carry out on-site enforcement through the warden 1.3 Ongoing This can only be enforced if a warden is on site. At present the staff rota does offer greater cover during the busy summer months.

Monitor the level of vegetation planting along the banks of the lakes.

4.1.2 Ongoing

Establish 1-metre vegetation barriers on the banks of the lakes where necessary.

4.2.2 Ongoing Prioritise identified problem areas. Cutting may be carried out under the exceptions highlighted at 4.2.3.

Upgrade site signage. 4.3 August 2009 As signage falls into disrepair replacements must adhere to relevant safety standards. As recommended by RoSPA, it will be the intention that all signage is upgraded/replaced to conform with relevant standards within three years.

Install ‘danger – deep water’ where people leave HCP land and enter EA land towards the flood barrier.

4.3.11 Spring ‘07

Install ‘multi signs’ at main car park entrances to the park

4.3.3 August ‘07 Ensure it follows all relevant regulations/ pictograms/ info etc

Monitor the condition of nag signs on site and repair/replace.

4.3.4 Ongoing Formally monitor once a month and record findings. Ad-hoc inspections are also carried out by other TMBC officers.

Erect temporary ‘Danger Ice – Take Care’ signage at areas affected as site conditions dictate.

4.3.7 As required

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Action Strategy

Reference No.

Implementation Date

Notes

Ensure ‘Danger Deep Water’ signage is located in the relevant areas

4.3.9 Sept ‘06 Completed

Distribute leaflets to appropriate site users highlighting the dangers of the lakes, to reinforce signage.

4.4.2 Ongoing Generic leaflet being developed

Distribute advisory leaflets to local households 4.4.3 Spring ‘07 Through TMBC ‘Here & Now’ Raise awareness of water safety through TMBC’s ‘Activate’ brochures.

4.5.2 March/April/May ‘07

Develop and maintain advisory information on the Councils web site

4.5.3 April 07 and ongoing

New webpage being set up prior to April 2007 to include, safety info, parts of the EA’s ‘don’t go in’ interactive water safety CD and water safety strategies.

Monitor life rings and rescue equipment and replace where necessary.

4.6.3 Ongoing Check twice a week and record findings.

Review the ‘Emergency Action Plan’

4.7.1 March ‘08 Current “Emergency Action Plan” drawn up in March 2007.

Adopt bylaws for Haysden Country Park, to cover the issue of non-authorised swimming.

4.8.2 Summer ‘07 In progress and currently awaiting assistance from the Councils Chief Solicitor

Contact Environment Agency about their vandalised signage that is in need of replacing/repair

4.9.2 Sept ‘06 Contact made, EA aware. Additional letter to be written

Carry out an inspection of the existing bridges and develop a programme to address any identified issues.

4.9.3 Ongoing Carry out and inform Kent County Council (KCC) and other relevant owners.

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Action Strategy

Reference No.

Implementation Date

Notes

Carry out an inspection of the existing culverts and pipes and develop a programme to address any identified issues.

4.9.4 Sept’ ’06 and ongoing

Carry out and inform any relevant owners

Risk assessments are to be completed for any organised events/activities carried out close to the water bodies.

5.0 Ongoing

Implement policy of not breaking ice on the lakes, unless for specific environmental reasons.

5.0 Ongoing

Prepare signage ready for use and erect temporary advisory signage, when appropriate.

5.0 As required

Prepare guidance notes to advise on-site contractors of the dangers of Weils disease.

5.0 May ‘07 Prepare in liaison with EHH.

Ensure that all contractors operating on site are aware of the dangers of ‘Weils disease’ and issue them with guidance notes, when prepared.

5.0 May ‘07

Provide the warden with access to throw lines and radio/mobile phone.

5.0 Sept ‘06 Mobile phones are supplied in the absence of radios.

Monitor the condition of all advisory signage. 6.0 Ongoing Formally monitor once a month and record findings. Ad-hoc inspections are also carried out by other TMBC officers.

Keep a record of all incidents in respect to water safety.

7.0 Ongoing

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9.0 Review 9.1 It is appreciated that circumstances may alter and it will be the

intention to next review this document in 2020.

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Appendix 1

RISK ASSESSMENT: UNAUTHORISED USE OF THE LAKES

Area: Haysden Country Park Date: 01/09/06 RA No: HCP Operations covered by this assessment: Any persons accessing any water course or lake within the country park, without the permission of the Council or the Water Sports concessions. Maximum number of people exposed: Unlimited Frequency and duration of exposure: Daily (seasonal) Significant hazards identified: Drowning – Some steep sided banks and deep cold water allows unauthorised swimmers to get out of their depth quickly. The layers of cold water just below the surface can cause cramps and rapid exhaustion. Serious Injury – Underwater obstacles can cause serious injury to limbs and head. Disease – Ingestion of water, cuts and scratches, water splashing in the eye and poor personal hygiene can all allow disease to enter the body. Disease from water borne viruses including ‘Leptospirosis’ (Weil’s Disease) & ‘Blue Green Algae’, can cause vomiting, kidney and liver damage, breathing problems and death. Entanglement – There are large areas of weed in the water courses and the lakes in the Country Park. Drowning caused by entanglement in weeds is a real possibility. Actions taken to reduce the risk:

• Entrance signs displaying the rules of the Country Park, including ‘No unauthorised swimming’ and ‘No unauthorised boating are at the main entrances.

• Additional ‘Nag’ signs at key points where unauthorised swimming and boating has an increased possibility of occurring.

• Part Time Warden actively discourage any unauthorised swimmers when patrolling the site. • A ‘No Public Swimming’ leaflet is offered to users of the park who request further information about the

dangers of the lake and to unauthorised water users. • The development of a site specific water safety strategy • Check of water safety equipment and replace if needed.

Further actions required: Site Manager will ensure implementation, monitoring and compliance with the Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and Work Instructions issued from time to time by the Council. The Health & Safety Officer will monitor regularly via inspections, audits and review of accident and incident statistics. Further to the above RoSPA have completed a Safety Report on the site and subsequently a site specific Water Safety Strategy has been developed for HCP. All actions arising from the Strategy must be implemented in the prescribed times. Assessment of residual risk: The residual risk cannot be eliminated totally but is as low as reasonably practicable Drawn up by: M Harris Last review: September 2006

Next review: September 2007

RISK ASSESSMENT

Unauthorised Water Activities

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Appendix 2

EMERGENCY PLAN

CODE OF PRACTICE MARCH 2007

HAYSDEN COUNTRY PARK EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

INTRODUCTION Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has an obligation to provide a suitable procedure in the event of an emergency at Haysden Country Park. Emergency and Incident Management

• The Site Manager shall be responsible for implementing the emergency and incident procedure.

• In the event of a major incident or emergency main access points are

as follows: Access Point

Grid Ref Access for: Description

Main Country Park access

TQ572457

Fire vehicles Police vehicles Ambulance

Just off lower Haysden Lane (signposted from Tonbridge Town Centre). General publics entrance/exit. Pad locked height restriction barrier, and ‘Radar key’ restriction barrier further into the car park to gain access to parts of the park.

Sailing club car park

TQ564456

Fire vehicles Police vehicles Ambulance

Tarmac access from Lower Haysden Lane. Padlocked barrier and gates allowing access to Haysden water side of park.

Audley Rise Car Park

TQ578464

Fire vehicles Police vehicles Ambulance

Car park off Audley Rise Road, barrier restricting height, pedestrian access only to the park.

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Air ambulance landing locations: Locations for the air ambulance to land will be decided by the air ambulance crew as they can assess more appropriately the capabilities of the helicopter, their own skill and the weather conditions at the time. Emergency Co-ordination

• In the event of an emergency, if an employee is on site and the incident has been reported to them, they shall be deemed the “incident co-ordinator” and shall co-ordinate first aid treatment, incident management, raising of any relevant alarm and the contact and direction of emergency services.

• In the event of a major incident, emergency services shall be directed

to the most appropriate zone to affect swift and efficient handling of the problem and accelerate casualty evacuation to hospital if required.

• In order to co-ordinate the arrival of emergency services it may be

necessary for the “incident co-ordinator” to liaise with the following:

Site Manager – Chris Fox Telephone 01732 876172 Site Ranger – Rachel Cantwell Telephone 07769 672129 TMBC 24 Hr Phone Number Telephone 01732 844522 Tonbridge & District Angling & Fish Preservation Society (T&DA&FPS) Telephone 01732 359385 Tonbridge Town Sailing Club Telephone 01732 817127 Sevenoaks Triathlon Club Telephone 01732 352850

• All employees and contractors shall respond to the requests of the

“incident co-ordinator” and shall act swiftly upon any commands that are deemed appropriate to effect easy access by emergency services eg unlocking gates, moving cars/obstacles, etc.

• Having been contacted during the course of an incident employees and/or contractors shall remain “on station” for further contact throughout the incident and do so until told to “stand down” by the “incident co-ordinator”.

• It shall be the responsibility of the “incident co-ordinator” to decide

when to “stand down” once the incident has passed and emergency vehicles have left the site. This should only be done once the “incident co-ordinator” has confirmed that the site is secure, gates locked etc.

• It shall be the responsibility of the “incident co-ordinator” to report the

incident to the Site Manager as soon as possible after the event.

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• The Site Manager shall be responsible for informing the Council’s Health and Safety Officer of any such incidents or emergencies.

Water Emergency Guidelines Water activities at Haysden Country Park can be high during the peak summer months.

• Authorised water activities are run by Tonbridge Town Sailing Club. A minimal amount of water activity also takes place by members of T&DA&FPS. A triathlon club also uses the water. These companies/clubs are checked on a regular basis to ensure their insurance and health & safety policies are up to date and acceptable.

• Unauthorised water activities may consist of swimming and inflatable

boats within the lakes of the Country Park. In the Event of a Water Emergency

• If you are alerted to a water incident you should attend the scene as quickly as possible.

• Using the information received decide whether to contact the Police,

Ambulance and Fire Services on your way to the emergency or ask another member of the public to contact the relevant emergency services.

• When on the scene, assess the situation and possible options. Where

possible, remain on the lake’s/waters edge to co-ordinate the rescue; requesting safety boats and any other emergency services available to help any person(s) in difficulty.

• If available, use any relevant safety equipment to bring the casualty to

shore.

• As a last resort, and only if you feel confident, you may enter the lake and rescue any person in difficulty.

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Appendix 3

SECTION A PERSONAL DETAILS OF INJURED PERSON

Surname: ..................................................................................... Length of Service: ................................................... Other Names: ................................................................................ Telephone/Extension: ............................................. Home Address: .............................................................................. Service: ................................................................... ..................................................................................... Age: ......................................................................... ..................................................................................... Job/Position: ............................................................ Name, Address and Occupation of Person making this entry, if different from above: Name: ……………………………….. Occupation : ..………………………… Address: ……………………………………………………….……………………………………… SECTION B INCIDENT DETAILS Date of Accident: ........................................................................... Employee/Contractor/Member of Public Time of Accident: ........................................................................... Report Number: ....................................................... Where did the accident happen?…………………………………………………………………… Was First Aid rendered? YES [ ] NO [ ] By whom: Was the casualty sent to hospital? YES [ ] NO [ ] Name of Hospital: .......................................................................... Time lost (hours): .................................................... What was the injury? ............................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................ Activity engaged upon when incident occurred: ................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................ Witnesses: Was this activity part of the injured person's normal duties? YES [ ] NO [ ] Person in charge at the time of the incident: ........................................................................................................................ Incident first notified to: ........................................................................................................................................................ SECTION C CLASSIFICATION OF THE INCIDENT Fatality [ ] Over 3 day injury [ ] Specified major injury [ ] Other minor injury [ ] Non injury incident [ ] Reported to HSE by: on: …….............................................................. Severity of injury: Major: [ ] Serious: [ ] Minor: [ ] Likelihood of repeat: Frequent: [ ] Occasional: [ ] Rare: [ ] SECTION D INVESTIGATION DETAILS (to be completed by the injured person's supervisor for all accidents). IMMEDIATE CAUSE (what actions, equipment etc. may have contributed to the incident?) ............................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................ BASIC CAUSES (what specific personal or job factors may have contributed to the incident?) ............................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................ REMEDIAL ACTION (what, by whom, when by?) .............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................ Signature of injured person: ....................................................................... Date returned to work: ............................... Supervisor’s name: ..................................................................................... Signature: ................................................... Date:………………….

ACCIDENT REPORT FORM

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Photos of signs Appendix 5

EA signs start of bridle route Haysden Water end

Multi sign entrance to Haysden Water end by kissing gate (updated hospital details in Dec 2011)

EA sign on concrete road over Leigh Barrier Haysden Water end

Nag sign (1st nearest the concrete road) around Haysden Water lake

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Nag sign (2nd) around Haysden Water Lake

EA sign about reservoir flood area by railway bridge

EA sign facing out of the site over concrete road

Nag sign (3rd) Haysden Water

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Multi sign Main entrance near railway bridge (updated hospital details in Dec 2011)

Barden Lake Nag sign

Multi sign at Audley Rise entrance (updated hospital details in Dec 2011)

Barden Lake No boating or swimming sign by lake

Copy held at HCP Rangers Office