TEST Valley Borough Council will upgrade water safety devices across its sites following a rise in vandalism and misuse of life rings.

Officers currently waste the equivalent of four days a month being called out to collect life rings that have been thrown into ponds and lakes at the council’s nature reserves and parks.

With missing safety equipment posing a risk to life, the authority has taken advice from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and will be rolling out new Throw Line Housing Stations across the borough, beginning with a pilot at Anton Lakes which were installed on Thursday, July 25, to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day.

Each station contains a throw line, which users can access in an emergency by dialling 999 and providing the precise location reference displayed on the unit. The call handler will give them a code to unlock the throw line, which can be used repeatedly. 

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(Image: Test Valley Borough Council) Rikki Noble, Test Valley station manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue said: "If someone is in trouble in the water, the best way to help is by staying calm, staying on land, and remembering Call, Tell, Throw: call 999 for the emergency services, tell the struggling person to float on their back, throw them something that floats.

“These new water safety stations will help people by providing vital lifesaving equipment and giving them clear instructions so they understand what to do in an emergency. They will also help us to easily identify the location and reach anyone in need as quickly as possible. It is important that this equipment is available for use when needed and the new stations should help prevent anti-social use and damage to this vital lifesaving equipment.”

Cllr Terese Swain, portfolio holder for community, leisure and tourism, said: “Lakes on Test Valley Borough Council land aren’t for swimming or paddling, but accidents happen, and these safety devices are there for anyone needing urgent, lifesaving help.

“In 2022, 266 people drowned accidentally in the UK and more of these drowning incidents took place in inland waterways than the sea.

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"Every time somebody removes a life ring for anything other than helping someone in need, they could be putting another life at risk.

"While we go through the process of upgrading this equipment across our sites, I would appeal to anyone who thinks of tampering with this equipment to consider that they could inadvertently contribute to someone’s death. And I doubt anyone would want that on their conscience.”

If you see a life ring that is out of place you can report it to the council on by emailing leisure@testvalley.gov.uk or calling 01264 368000 and asking to speak to the Countryside team.