Following the removal of 30,000 tonnes of silt, Weston-super-Mare’s Marine Lake re-opened yesterday and is ready to be enjoyed by residents and visitors this summer.
North Somerset Council has invested £300,000 in bringing the lake back into use as an outdoor swimming and watersports destination.
The investment is part of the council’s £700,000 ‘Great Lakes’ project which also involves work to revitalise Clevedon’s Marine Lake and Portishead Lake Grounds.
Over the past two months around 30,000 tonnes of compacted silt have been removed from the lake by specialist contractors Smals Dredging to create a suitable depth of water for swimming.
Cllr Mike Solomon , North Somerset Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “Marine Lake is such an important attraction on Weston’s seafront. I’m delighted that this much-needed work to restore the lake means we once again have an all-year-round swimming and watersports destination ready to be enjoyed again by both residents and visitors alike.
“Huge thanks must go to the volunteers of the Weston Marine Lake Mudlarks for their continued support with this project. Thanks also to Smals Dredging for completing the work on time despite the challenges of working in a marine environment.”
The council will continue to work closely with consultants and the Mudlarks on the future arrangements for the restored lake, including the management of silt.