New safety plans to stop more water tragedies

North Lincolnshire Council's cabinet will be asked tomorrow to support a series of measures designed to improve safety at the hundreds of open water sites across the borough.

If the strategy is approved each site will be given a rating of either red, amber or green, according to the level of risk it presents.

Emergency plans would be developed for the most high-risk areas – which would be fitted with life-saving kits and highly visible warning signs – while measures taken to reduce the dangers at low-risk sites would include awareness-raising and information boards.

Council leader Coun Mark Kirk said: "Death by drowning is one of the biggest killers of children and young people in this country and we must all take steps to minimise the risks.

"It can be very tempting but people should never play in open water or step out onto an icy pond. The council and its partners are doing what we can but water safety is everyone's responsibility."

The policy has been developed by the council in partnership with Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS).

Brigade spokesman Jeff Owen said: "HFRS cannot over-emphasise the dangers of open water and we stress to all ages to use extreme caution when partaking in any activity where open water is concerned."

In May 2008, Lebohang Sibanda, 12, drowned in Ashbyville Pond, Scunthorpe, after trying to float on a piece of polystyrene. He was the third child to die in the pond in eight years, following the drowning of Louise Wood, 12, and eight-year-old Hayleigh Hinton in August 2000.