DRASTIC measures have been introduced to stop people entering the weir at Ray Mill Island, Maidenhead.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) Council said they received reports of people entering the ‘dangerous’ waters by the weir – which has resulted in a ‘significant’ increase in large gatherings.

A number of safety measures have been introduced to keep residents who visit, live, and work on the island or nearby.

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From August 15 (Saturday) until further notice, the council and the Environment Agency has installed additional fencing to stop unauthorised access to the weir.

RBWM has warned the weir can be ‘very dangerous’ as it hides strong currents and deep water – posing a risk to lives.

Other measures includes restricting the number of people permitted on the island, community warden monitoring, closing time will be brought forward to 7pm, and emphasising for only residents of Ray Mill Island or those with legitimate business should drive over the bridge to the island.

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A spokesperson from RBWM said: “We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun and want all of our parks to be enjoyed, but our main priority is safety and we hope these measures will create a more pleasant and safe experience for everyone.”

They added everyone should follow all signage, respect social distancing restrictions, and remind residents BBQs, alcohol, and night fishing are not permitted.