Quarries issue trespass warning

PARENTS are being warned to be vigilant over the coming bank holiday weekend as a warm spell could lead to children being exposed to unseen dangers in the UK’s quarries.

The warning has been issued by the Quarry Products Association following a nationwide survey of quarry managers, whose overwhelming response was that warm weather often leads to misadventure at their sites.

Launching the QPA’s annual ‘Play Safe…Stay Safe’ campaign, the Association’s chairman, Lynda Thompson, said the industry was relying on support from parents and teachers to deliver the essential message that quarries are not safe places to play.

‘Our new safety survey shows that 60% of our members’ quarries have experienced trespass problems in the last two years and over half expect further incidents in the coming year,’ she said. ‘We know from experience that warm weather is a particular factor in increased levels of trespass by both children and adults.

‘A fifth of our members say that trespass is a constant worry and many have employed CCTV, extra security guards, new fencing and have increased co-operation with Police Community Support Officers to try to tackle the problem.’

The new survey of quarry managers also found that while adults over the age of 25 are the most frequent trespassers, teenage trespass remains the biggest concern.

Lynda Thompson added: ‘It came as something of a surprise that the over-25’s were the most frequent trespassers. We would urge those adults to change their behaviour because children following this example could be exposed to unseen dangers.’

The QPA is particularly concerned about the potential for accidents at disused quarries, which often become beauty spots and attract whole families. Among the adults who sometimes ignore the hazards of such sites – and in doing so encourage children – are divers and climbers.

‘We are keen to ensure parents and teachers fully understand the dangers young people can face if they trespass on active or disused sites. One accident is one too many,’ said Ms Thompson.