Danger quarry blocked after intruders seen
The entrance to a dangerous quarry has been barred after groups of up to 20 people were seen congregating on the site as trespassers.
With six deaths at former quarries across the country last year, police are warning people to stay out of such places, however tempting pools of water might look beyond the gates.
This summer people and vehicles have been seen trespassing at Shadwell Quarry in Much Wenlock, with some trespassers wearing swimming costumes – despite the fact that people have been injured there in previous years.
PCSO Malcolm Goddard of the Broseley and Much Wenlock Safer Neighbourhood team said a new gate had now been put up at the site to keep people out, with a large boulder placed in front of it to stop cars getting in.
He said the sightings had been made during hot weather this summer. "The gates had been removed from the quarry and vehicles were gaining access," he said.
He said in previous years people had even advertised meeting up in the quarry on social media, but police weren't aware of that this year.
"It's known as the 'blue quarry' because the water is so blue," he said.
"This year we have had reports of people in swimming costumes, but not of people actually in the water. That's quite good – we've had a lot more than 20 people reported there in previous years."
He said the quarry is privately owned and therefore anyone entering was committing an act of trespass.
West Mercia Police has been runing a 'Stay safe, stay out of quarries' campaign which highlights that such sites often have hidden dangers.
