A Wiltshire lake has been closed after toxic algae was found as a warning

Warminster Council has been forced to close the lake in the town’s main recreation park following the discovery of a toxic blue-green algae bloom.

The closure of the lake in the Lake Pleasure Grounds means boaters will not be able to use it and dogs should not be allowed in the water either.

The local council has banned boating on the lake on Saturday 29 June and Sunday 30 June and apologized for any inconvenience caused.

Lake Warminster is temporarily closed due to blue-green algae. Trevor Porter 77184 -2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Stuart Legg, parks and estates manager for Warminster Borough Council, said: “Unfortunately, the council has closed the lake in the park due to the discovery of a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom.

“This means boats will not be available for hire and the model club will not meet at the park.

“Blue-green algae can be toxic and the Environment Agency advice is to keep people and pets out of the water.

“Warminster Town Council is working with the Environment Agency and will reopen the lake as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Mr Legg said the council was “waiting for a change in the weather” in the hope that the blue-green algae bloom would disappear naturally.

The Environment Agency and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have consulted and it needs either rain or a large volume of very bright sunshine to clear the bloom.

Lake Warminster is temporarily closed due to blue-green algae. Trevor Porter 77184 -3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The council has previously described the lake as a “real gem” and the Lake Pleasure Grounds is one of Warminster’s most popular leisure attractions. They have a play area, putting green, skatepark, splashpad, tennis courts and Pavilion Cafe.

The dangerous algae has also previously affected nearby Shearwater Lake on the Longleat Estate, although it is now open to coarse fishing again.

Local vets Harris Hill & Gibbons, which has branches in Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster, have previously warned about the dangers of blue-green algae to pets.

They said: “Blue-green algal blooms can appear as green or brown-green litter on the water surface and can contain toxins that can be harmful to animals if ingested, even in small amounts.

“Dogs can ingest this algae by drinking water from an affected lake, river or pond or while licking their fur after going for a swim.

“Symptoms of exposure can appear within minutes or hours, depending on the type of toxin ingested, and typically include: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, disorientation, difficulty breathing, seizures, and blood in the stool. If left untreated, it can cause liver damage. damage and eventually be rapidly fatal.”