Call for improved security at Burnside Lakes in Cherry Hinton after death of Dishone, 16

An MP is calling for action to improve security and prevent further tragedies at Burnside Lakes in Cambridge following the death of a 16-year-old boy.

The teenager, Dishone Lloyd from Essex, died after reports he got into trouble while swimming with friends at the lakes in Cherry Hinton.

A public meeting, which began with a minute’s silence, attended by around 80 people at St Andrew’s Church in Coldhams Lane, heard that swimming at the lakes had been a teenage “rite of passage” for decades.

South Cambridgeshire MP Pippa Heylings said: “My thoughts go out to the family and friends and to all the emergency responders to this tragic incident. This is a matter for local and even regional concern because youngsters travel for miles to reach the Burnside Lakes. We need to convene a high-level meeting with the police and crime commissioner and community safety partnership among others to prevent further tragedies.”

A body was recovered by police on Tuesday last week after reports the boy had got into difficulty in the water around 5.30pm on Monday.

Matt Carter, headteacher at Mark Hall Academy in Harlow where the teen was a pupil, said Dishone was not just a student but a “cherished member of our family and community”.

“He brought positivity and warmth to those who knew him, and his presence was felt throughout our academy,” he said. Dishone was due to collect his GCSE results on Thursday.

Mr Carter continued: “He had just successfully completed his secondary education and had a bright future ahead of him, and the suddenness of this tragic loss is a stark reminder of just how precious and fragile life can be.

“In times like these, it is important that we come together to support one another. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Dishone’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We stand with them, offering our love and support to help navigate this unimaginable grief.

“Dishone was a special pupil at Mark Hall Academy and his memory will act as a beacon and guiding light for us moving ahead, he will never be forgotten.”

A planning application for three different sites, one of which is Burnside Lakes, has been submitted to Cambridge City Council by developer Mission Street. It will be discussed by the council’s planning committee on 4 September.

Under these plans, the lakes, which are jointly owned by the council, Peterhouse and Anderson Group, could be opened up as part of an urban country park. However, the decision made by the committee will be regarding the principle of the urban country park, not any potential uses.

The Liberal Democrat MP continued: “It is not my role as MP to intervene in or predetermine a planning process. Quite rightly the local councillors are there to ensure local people’s voices are heard.

“However, I understand this was an accident waiting to happen and it is clear to me that further discussion is needed with emergency services and local people to improve security and life-saving measures.”

The concerned residents voted overwhelmingly to open up the lakes to limited supervised wider use, rather than allowing 24/7 access and voted almost unanimously to designate this area as a nature reserve. No one at the meeting felt the current security precautions were acceptable.

Reverend Karin Voth Harman, who organised the meeting, pointed out that in the current proposals all of the “community benefit money” from the application goes towards “opening up dangerous and polluted water to public access”.

She asked: “What about spending it on opening up the Tins cycling bridge over the railroad so that people are able to cycle safely to and from Cherry Hinton? That’s the real need we have as a community.”

Cambridge City Council leader Cllr Mike Davey said: “We were devastated to hear of the death of a boy at Burnside Lakes last week, and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. We are mindful of the impact this incident will have had on the local community who may be concerned about the safety of the area.

“We take our responsibility seriously to ensure the premises are secure. Public access is not permitted, other than for members of an angling club which is licensed to use the lake. There are barriers to prevent illegal trespassing, and regular checks and patrols of the site are undertaken by the joint landowners to ensure the site is secure.

“There is also clear signage around the perimeter which alerts people to the dangers of trespassing, and swimming illegally in the lakes, which contain deep and very cold water. We would like to re-emphasise the very serious risks that are inherent in swimming in locations where there is no supervision.”