Being situated within close proximity to rivers and open water has many advantages for Elmbridge but of course it brings responsibilities and consequences. While many of our residents and visitors safely enjoy the river both in terms of hospitality and water activities, the dangers of open water should never be underestimated; cold water shock, currents, and the risk of being caught in rocks is ever present.

Elmbridge has a complex range of water courses, with a variety of landowners who each have their own responsibilities for river safety. In the absence of a single body responsible for water safety in Elmbridge, and in recognition for the important role that the rivers and other water courses have in the borough, Elmbridge Borough Council is leading the way in Surrey with a ‘Respect the Water: Drowning Prevention Plan’, which was agreed by Elmbridge Cabinet on 11 January.

Working with our partners at the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council, the plan sets out to reduce the number of water incidents in the borough through training and improved awareness and commits £30k for 2023-2024 to deliver additional drowning prevention projects including:

1. Free swimming lessons for 12- 18-year-old non swimmers during the summer delivered by Places Leisure.
2. Subsidising lifeguard courses ran by the internationally recognised, Royal Life Saving Society.
3. Additional throw line boards: Six throw line boards have already been installed at Hurst Park Open Space, Thamesmead Recreation Ground, Waterside Drive, Albany Reach x 2 and Cowey Sale. Additional throw lines will be installed at other high-risk areas.

In addition, targeted communications and community engagement events will be established to continue to warn of the dangers of open water swimming.

Throw lines at Albany Reach

The latest additions to water safety have been the installation of two new throw lines Albany Reach, Thames Ditton. These has been made possible with funding from SCC County Councillor Nick Darby who used his ‘Members Community Allocation’ to fund the throw lines.

Councillor Bruce McDonald, Deputy Leader wants to reassure residents that Elmbridge Borough Council will continue to consider water safety as a priority:

“The dangers of open water cannot be underestimated, which is why we continue to prioritise water safety in conjunction with our partners. The proposed additional £30k of funding for free swimming lessons, lifeguard courses and additional throw lines shows our commitment to keeping our residents safe.”

Councillor Janet Turner, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure and Environment Services,

“We need a multi-layered approach to water safety in Elmbridge, which is why we educate, inform and collaborate, as well as establish practical measures such as throw lines to protect our residents and visitors. We will continue to review our Drowning Prevention Strategy to make sure we are delivering all we can for our residents in terms of water safety.”

Leading community safety

The Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership has been leading the way in Surrey for a number of years with its multi-agency Drowning Prevention Strategy. Working with our partners at Surrey Fire and Rescue, Surrey Police, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the partnership educates and informs about the dangers of open water and acts to keep the open water safe in the borough.

The Partnership also consults with ROSPA about safety equipment such as throw lines.

Educating and informing

This education takes the shape of regular sites visits to our more popular river locations, schools’ promotion, the annual Junior Citizen programme, where in 2022 over 1,550 year 6s from around Elmbridge participated in an interactive session on water safety run by RNLI.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, working with Elmbridge and other partners, have also held a number of water safety events in recent months, demonstrating throw line use and highlighting the dangers open water.

For more information on water safety please visit the Elmbridge Borough Council website.

FAQ on water safety in Elmbridge

Who is responsible for water safety in Elmbridge?

The Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership is leading the way in Surrey with its multi-agency Drowning Prevention Strategy. Working with our partners at Surrey Fire and Rescue, Surrey Police, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), it educates and informs about the dangers of open water and acts to keep the open water safe in the borough.

What does EBC do to help prevent open water incidents?

Education is an important aspect and takes the shape of regular sites visits to our more popular river locations, schools’ promotion, the annual Junior Citizen programme, where over 1550 year 6s from around Elmbridge participated in an interactive session on water safety run by RNLI, as well as social media messages and more targeted communications in high usage areas, with water safety banners up at Hurst Park and Albany Reach to advise users of the risks of open water.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, working with Elmbridge and other partners, have also held a number of water safety events in recent months, demonstrating throw line use and highlighting the dangers open water.

The Partnership also consults with ROSPA about safety equipment such as throw lines.

I know there are throw lines along the river, are there enough?

To further protect our residents and visitors, two new throw lines have been installed at Albany Reach, Thames Ditton. This is in addition to the four throw lines already situated at Hurst Park, Thamesmead, Waterside Drive and Cowey Sale. We will continue to invite ROSPA to inspect areas of the river in Elmbridge to advise on throw line locations.

Why do we have throw lines rather than throw rings?

Following advice from ROSPA and looking at best practice elsewhere with our partners, when it comes to rivers, throw lines are far more suitable than throw rings.

The advantage of these throw lines is that the user has to call 999 to access the line, and this alerts the emergency service to the exact location and to mobilise urgently to the site.

Should we have safe swimming areas on the river?

Open water swimming is dangerous due to cold water shock, river currents and the risk of being caught in rocks is ever present, as well as the potential water quality of the open water. None of these are under our control and therefore we could never comfortably designate any area of open water ‘safe’. This suggestion will be reviewed with our expert partners as part of our Drowning Prevention Strategy.

How do we educate people as to the dangers of open water swimming?

This education takes the shape of regular sites visits to our more popular river locations, schools’ promotion, the annual Junior Citizen programme, where over 1550 year 6s from around Elmbridge participated in an interactive session on water safety run by RNLI, as well as social media messages and more targeted communications in high usage areas, with water safety banners up at Hurst Park and Albany Reach to advise users of the risks of open water.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, working with Elmbridge and other partners, have also held a number of water safety events in recent months, demonstrating throw line use and highlighting the dangers open water.

Who patrols the riverside in the summer to help prevent incidents?

A range of partners from Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and rescue services, Elmbridge Borough Council and the EA patrol the riverside as part of their regular Borough wide patrols and site visits.

Further information is available on the Elmbridge Borough Council website.