Police issue fines to people travelling from Merseyside to visit Wigan quarry

Fines have been handed to people visiting a quarry, as police urge everyone to comply with the coronavirus lockdown and stay away.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Officers have told several groups to leave East Quarry in Appley Bridge over the past two days and say many had travelled there from Liverpool or Southport.

They fined a group on Tuesday and three people on Wednesday for breaching the Government's rules imposed during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman for Skemersdale Police said: "Abandoned quarries are not safe places to swim at the best of times but trespassing to swim or picnic, in the current climate, is socially irresponsible and puts many peoples lives at risk.

East QuarryEast Quarry
East Quarry

"Over the last two days officers from our neighbourhood and response teams have removed several groups from the quarry at Appley Bridge.

"The majority have been from Liverpool or Southport and in groups of people outside of their own household. This is clearly in breach of the Government's Covid regulations.

"Lancashire Police will continue its policy of engaging, explaining and encouraging these rules prior to issuing any fines.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Unfortunately some of these groups have failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation or comply with officers so a group from Merseyside were issued fines on Tuesday for attending the quarry and a further three people yesterday.

"We will have staff patrolling the quarry all weekend so stay away, stay safe, keep your families safe, protect the NHS and save lives."

Despite multiple campaigns highlighting the risks, some people still choose to head to quarries and other areas of open water in warm weather.

The area has had its share of tragedies over the years. In 1999, Craig Croston, 17, from Platt Bridge, drowned while swimming with friends in East Quarry.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In 2015 13-year-old Marsh Green schoolboy Miracle Godson died in the same quarry after getting into difficulty while swimming.

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.