Warning regarding the River Wey around Byfleet
Dear RA members in Byfleet,
You will be aware that, for many years, residents of Byfleet have bathed in the River Wey at Millmead, Rivermead and Weymede. Residents also access the river at Bluegates, Mill Lane.
Recently, there have been several reports of sickness reported associated with bathing in the River Wey.
Our Councillors are aware of this and have posted messages which you may have seen. Their advice is not to let your children or anyone swim in the river at the moment. They are chasing the various statutory agencies to get answers and determine if remedial action needs to be taken.
As a result, we suggest that all residents refrain from bathing or paddling in the River Wey until we receive the all clear.
We will be putting notices up in coming days near Millmead, Rivermead, Weymede and Bluegates, Mill Lane. In the meantime, could we ask you to share this message with anyone you know who may not be online or on social media. Importantly, please also mention this to our village children as we approach warmer weekends and the summer holidays.
Thank you and kind regards,
Your RA Village Representatives on behalf of the RA Committee
Byfleet, West Byfleet, and Pyrford Residents Association (RA)
Hello,
Any news on what it is that you have found in the Wey River.? Testing should have revealed what it is by now.
Many thanks!
The Residents’ Association has no function or responsibility to test water and nor do we intend to start.
When we became aware of the problem and after discussion with our Member of Parliament and Councillors we immediately posted the warning notices. There remains confusion as to which agency is responsible for this stretch of water and indeed what caused the pollution.
We continue to work on this matter but in the meantime the clear advice remains – do NOT swim in these waters.
Thank you.
Same question as Alicia above. Do you have any idea about if it’s safe now?
The Residents’ Association has no function or responsibility to test water and nor do we intend to start.
When we became aware of the problem and after discussion with our Member of Parliament and Councillors we immediately posted the warning notices. There remains confusion as to which agency is responsible for this stretch of water and indeed what caused the pollution.
We continue to work on this matter but in the meantime the clear advice remains – do NOT swim in these waters.
Thank you.
Okay, wording on the notice could have been clearer. Read it as the statutory body’s advice was not to enter the water, rather than the councillor’s.
Are you able to share any more info about when people became ill, and which areas of the Wey they swam in? Be helpful to know if they were all downstream of a certain point, if they were all on the river section rather than the Navigation, etc.
That’d allow people to make an informed choice about if they want to swim, kayak or paddle board in various stretches.
I do not believe that anything in the Notice suggested that it was advice from a Statutory body. Indeed I think that it was clear that it was from the Residents’ Association.
People (a small number) became ill in the middle of June possibly from swimming in the Wey in the Byfleet area.
The advice from Woking Council, DEFRA and indeed the National Trust is that swimming in the River Wey is not to be encouraged. If you have children please make them aware of this.
Stewart Dick