The owner of a quarry in Appley Bridge, a village near Wigan, has made a desperate plea for people to stay away after a third person lost their life swimming in the water-filled crater. Jamie Lewin, 16, tragically died after getting into difficulties swimming at East Quarry, Dawber Delph on Saturday July 9.
He is the third teenager to lose his life in the water following Miracle Godson, who died in 2015 and Craig Croston in 1999. Despite the area being surrounded by fencing and signs telling people to stay away, it remains a popular swimming area during the hot weather.
The tragedy of the ‘one in a million’ teenager from Stockport, caused shock, upset, and anger in the community, but people were still found to be trying to access the quarry in the following days.
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Jamie’s mother, Steph Lewin, wrote a tribute to her son, saying: “Jamie was a promising boxer who loved life and had so much to look forward to. He was so loved by everyone. He touched so many peoples’ lives in such a short time, he really did spread himself far.
“He really was one in a million. I’m so happy I was his mum. He was only 16 and so full of life and so happy.”
On the Monday following the tragedy, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were at the East Quarry speaking to young people in the area. A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue told Lancs Live that fire crews had been speaking to youths who were by the quarry fence who had said they were not trying to access the quarry. They said fire crews spoke to the group about water safety in case they did try to access the water.
Last year, the quarry was slapped with a weekend dispersal order after people continued to visit the site, which is private property.
Lancs Live reported that following this tragedy, Maybrook Investments, owners of the quarry, issued more pleas for people to stay away from the area and announced they are planning to shallow the water within the quarry, sending it into the Calico Brook.
Previously, they had received permission from the Environmental Agency to drain 75 percent of the water in the quarry. However they were refused a planning application to build a road which would have allowed HGVs to access the quarry.
Now, the company is acting on new advice and are going ahead with constructing a ramp on a permitted development basis and now plans to ask for a certificate of lawfulness from the council to raise the level of the quarry from a low as 60ft in some places to no more than one metre.
The owners of the quarry are asking residents to write to the West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper and Lancashire County Council‘s planning service to express their support for the plan of shallowing the quarry.
In the future, they wish to develop the quarry, filling it in and turning the area into a mix of residential and community use.
A spokesperson said: “The owners and staff at Maybrook are deeply saddened at the tragic death at East Quarry on 9th July 2022 and would like to pass their condolences to his family and friends.
“Our team have been maintaining the perimeter fencing and working with the emergency services to discourage young people from entering the site. Despite the tragedy of the weekend there are still groups of youths attempting to access the quarry. We appeal directly to them: please stay away and stay safe.
“As for the future of the quarry, the emergency access is very nearly complete and Maybrook have already prepared a Certificate of Lawfulness Application to drain, fill and re-water the quarry. Given the delays and objections rather than wait for the determination of a planning application for development of the site, which could take years, we decided in late 2021 that we would just remove the attraction and the danger it poses by reducing the depth of the water within the quarry to between 0.5 and 1m by raising the level of the Quarry floor.
“The external appearance quarry would be the same, but it would be safe. Upon issuing of the certificate Maybrook will be able to commence the drainage and works.
“In view of the clear and ongoing risk to life Maybrook plead with the council to issue the certificate immediately and without further delays or obstacles. We would be grateful if interested parties could provide us a letter supporting the application.”
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