Residents protest over plans for fence at Pickmere Lake

This morning, October 24, people held a peaceful protest at Pickmere Lake to block access to contractors after Pickmere Parish Council announced plans to build a fence around the open space.

Organised via social media, residents and open water swimmers of the Save Pickmere Lake group say they are acting to ‘protect their rights to access to the water’.

The parish council decided at its meeting in August it would erect a fence following ‘extensive consideration’, involving the police and Cheshire East Council, on how best to mitigate the problems caused by large numbers of people flocking to the lake in the summer.

Incidents included nuisance parking which blocked in residents, littering, people defecating in bushes and antisocial behaviour – all of which happened during the heatwaves earlier this year.

The fence (quoted at £6,813.25) would have several field gates, ‘with the intention that the council could decide periodically to close the space, leaving open the public footpath, when it is considered this would be in the best interests of the community’.

Protester Natasha Kirsten said: “The parish council, when it was granted the land, made a promise to the borough council it would keep the space open during daylight hours - they have now decided to put a fence up all around it.

“A lot of residents and the people who use it feel that first, it’s an eyesore, but it will also affect our house prices because some people buy here because it’s near the lake.

Protesters are hoping to stop a fence being erected (Image: Supplied)

“Of course, there are some residents who feel it should only be used by residents and there are some people who feel it should be fenced off.

“There are problems during the summer and they do need sorting, but it seems a bit too much fencing it off.”

Local swimmer and access campaigner Cat Sawyer added: “This lake has been shared by a community of dog walkers, swimmers, children and families for generations.

“We all have one thing in common, we are trying to connect with nature and enjoy our land and water.

“Connection to nature is vital for good physical and mental health.

“We can stand together to block this fence and protect our access.”

Louise Johnson from Water Safety Matters Ltd has enjoyed swimming in Pickmere for years and says people who swim in the lake do so for so many reasons, including mental wellbeing and enjoyment of nature.

She said: “The vast majority of swimmers who use the lake throughout the year respect the peace and tranquillity.

“Many of the summer visitors however come to the lake for different reasons and I share the views of the local people and agree litter and anti-social behaviour can be an issue.

“We agree there needs to be a solution, but this fence seems to be a knee-jerk reaction that will have a negative impact on locals and the local swimming communities.”

Cheshire Police confirmed officers attended the protest and no arrests were made (Image: Supplied)

Pickmere Parish Council’s plans state: “The gates/land will be closed each weekend (plus any bank holidays) in the period from April 1 to September 30 (except for the public footpath which will remain open).

“The parish council will clearly review the situation once the fence is in place and operational, with a view to balancing the need to allow residents the maximum freedom.”

It adds: "No-one has been able to suggest any form of ‘magic bullet’ to solve the problems the village suffers."

Simon Read, chairman of Pickmere Parish Council, said while this is the official plan, the reality would be the gates would only be closed when needed to protect residents from incidents such as those seen this summer.

He added: “The whole process of this is to protect the residents of Pickmere.

“We are all residents of Pickmere on the parish council – I moved here because I liked the area, and I liked the lake, it’s my home and I love it as it is.

“And while the fence is not the greatest of solutions, it’s the only solution we have.

“The incidents in the summer are starting to affect people’s mental wellbeing and the whole process of what we are doing is to protect the residents.

“The only time the public footpath will be closed is to do the work to install the fence.

“We have permission from the borough council for this.”