A site specific risk assessment will be undertaken at Enagh Lough by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, it emerged on Thursday night.
The survey is planned for January 18, next year after members of ROSPA’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee approved the recommendation.
Derry City and Strabane District Council commissioned the risk assessment and it is envisaged that any outcomes or recommendations from the subsequent report will be deployed before the summer of next year.
Read more: Enagh Lough safety to be addressed following the deaths of two teenagers
Following the tragic deaths of Derry teenagers Reuven Simon and Joseph Sebastian on August 29, 2022 at Enagh Lough, a multi-agency partnership was formed at the request of Mayor Sandra Duffy.
Meetings were held in October 2022 and in November 2022 so that partners could collectively consider site ownership, any relevant site specific safety measures required and to put in place a range of actions to mitigate against any further incidents of this nature taking place.
Partners have put together a range of funding proposals to support not only the risk assessment but also the implementation of any mitigation measures which are recommended by ROSPA.
The Mayor will contribute £500 to the risk assessment with the remaining £2,530 being funded from the community planning budget. Currently £6,000 has been put together by the range of partners for the implementation of any mitigation measures which are recommended by ROSPA.
Welcoming the report, Sinn Féin councillor Paul Fleming said: “I would like to acknowledge all of the partners who have come together very quickly and initiated ROSPA to do a site specific visit and hopefully the outworkings of it will ensure greater safety.
“Nothing can ever take away from the loss of the two families but it is incumbent on us to do what we can in the future to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
SDLP councillor Declan Norris added: “I would like to take this opportunity to remember the sad and tragic loss of the two young men at Enagh Lough in August. Growing up in Strathfoyle I spent every day I was off at Enagh Lough. I swam in it, I fished in it and I canoed in it so I know that it hasn’t changed much.
“There are a lot of dangers there and as a party we are in total support of the commission of the ROSPA consultation to undertake the risk assessments. It’s needed and as soon as we can get it all done and get the signs up to show people of the dangers the better.”
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