Trust calls water safety meeting
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LOCH KEN TRUST
Loch Ken Ranger Service
Loch Ken Trust is calling a public meeting to address water safety on Loch Ken.
Since its formation in 2020, water safety has always been a top priority for the Trust. Whether it is delivering water safety training to our local school children, or bringing back the ranger service to Loch Ken, water safety has always been a core part of Loch Ken Trust’s activities.
The importance of water safety on Loch Ken was highlighted this year, with the tragic accidental drowning of a young man back in June. In response to that incident Loch Ken Trust became a member of Water Safety Scotland and joined a national working group on water safety in open water environments.
Loch Ken Family Fun Day
They also secured funding from the Holywood Trust to offer free water safety training to young people from across the region. Working with the Galloway Activity Centre, they have already trained over 50 young people and the programme will continue next spring.
In addition to all their own activity, Loch Ken Trust has also been trying to find out who is responsible for water safety on the Loch, so they can work together in partnership. This has not proved an easy question to answer, as no organisation appears to take overall responsibility for water safety.
Since water safety is an issue that affects everyone who uses Loch Ken, the Trust has decided to call an open public meeting to discuss the issue. The meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th December, 11am in Parton Village Hall, and the Trust would urge everyone who has an interest in water safety on and around Loch Ken to save the date, come along and get involved.
Loch Ken Trust Manager, Barney Fryer, said:
“Water safety is everyone’s business. Loch Ken Trust has not been able to find any organisation that takes overall responsibility for water safety on Loch Ken. Therefore it looks like the only way we can make progress, is for everyone in the community to work together. We urge anyone who cares about water safety on Loch Ken to come to the public meeting and have your say.”
The meeting is open to anyone who wishes to be involved and it is hoped that all interested parties can work together to make Loch Ken a safer place for everyone to enjoy.