Bletchley councillor Mohammed Khan is highlighting the danger of swimming in the Blue Lagoon – an old gravel pit in Bletchley – as the school holidays start and the weather continues to be hot.

The lagoon is the former site of the London Brick Company brickworks. It is now a nature reserve. But it is a large, deep, water-filled pit which gets the name ‘Blue Lagoon’ from the water which turns a magnificent shade of blue in the right light. This and the surrounding land were designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1994. It is both beautiful and tempting.

However this lovely location hides a danger. The lagoon is very deep and very cold with plants growing under the calm majestic surface.

There were two deaths in 2014 and Cllr Khan believes young people should avoid swimming in the lagoon.

Cllr Khan said: “The Blue lagoon looks lovely and is very tempting to swimmers looking to take advantage of the hot weather. But it is a dangerous place and I would ask people to please not swim in the water.”

Cllr Khan believes that Central Bletchley has a good swimming pool and would encourage young people to use the councils pool instead.

However unlike residents of West Bletchley, for whom swimming is free if under 16, residents of Bletchley East have to pay.

Cllr Khan said: “It is daft that some young people in Central Bletchley get free swimming whilst others in nearby roads do not. The fact that young residents of the Trees and Lakes estate are also not able to get free swimming seems unfair to me, and dangerous as it could see young people going to the Blue lagoon because it is free.”

Cllr Khan continued: “I believe Bletchley and Fenny Town Council should copy West Bletchley Parish Council and fund swimming for the under 16s and indeed the over 60s too.”

Cllr Khan concluded: “I am asking young people not to swim in the Blue Lagoon this summer. It is very dangerous – safety first is my message. I am also asking Bletchley and Fenny Town Council to restore free swimming for the under 16s. It may save lives!”