Council advice is reportedly being ignored
The lake at St George’s Park.(Image: BristolLive)
A suspected botulism outbreak at a park in East Bristol has been branded a “disgrace” by locals.
The outbreak of the toxin at the lake in St George’s Park has seen local wildlife falling sick or dying as a result.
Bristol City Council said it is investigating reports of the outbreak and has given advice to park users, which includes keeping dogs on a lead near the lake, not allowing dogs to enter the water and not feeding wild birds.
However, residents have reacted with anger and concern at the outbreak. One nearby resident called for action before and said he hopes that something will be done now.
The lake at St George’s Park.(Image: BristolLive)
The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Why had the council let the water get this bad? It’s a disgrace.
“We’ve called for action before and nothing is being done. Hopefully now that this has made headlines something will be done and we can get the lake thriving again.”
When BristolLive visited the park, four signs from Bristol City Council were seen around the lake, three of which were tied to benches.
The sign said: “We are aware of reports concerning suspected botulism in the lake at St George’s Park and are actively investigating them.
“In the meantime, please:
- Do not touch sick, injured, or dead animals
- Keep dogs on a lead near the lake
- Do not allow dogs to enter the water
- Do not feed wild birds
- Avoid contact with the water where possible.”
Signs have been put up around the lake.(Image: BristolLive)
A concerned mother, who was at the park with her child and dog, said that she was worried about letting her dog go into the water despite seeing other dogs go in. Whilst at the park, BristolLive saw people feeding the wildlife.
She said: “It’s sad to hear that wildlife are dying and I hope the rest of the animals will be fine.
“I feel like no one is paying attention to the council’s guidance as I have seen dogs enter the water and dogs not on leads.”
Councillor Rob Bryher, for St George West, said he has been trying to get action taken over the state of the lake over the last two weeks, but said the local authority faces a challenge with little funding being available.
Cllr Bryher posted on Facebook yesterday (Tuesday): “I have been trying to get some action over the state of the lake over the last two weeks.
“We must all acknowledge the challenge of a local authority with little funding for parks to deal with these types of events and the increasing likelihood of watercourses having prolonged periods of drought or low levels as a result of periods of extreme heat as we have seen this summer.”
He said that the storm inlet is cleared “fairly irregularly” and that there was “an instruction to replace the aerator” made by council officers some time ago, which he said is “imminent”, but that it will not fix the issue of low water levels.
On what action the council has taken in the short-term: “We will place on-site communication regarding feeding the birds on the lake and stop the issue of bird food in the park as we understand this can be a contributing factor.
“Our parks officers are looking at how to maximise the chances of birds feeding outside of the lake for the time-being to minimise the risk of contracting avian botulism.
“I am thankful we have now had some rain which will help the lake in the short-term while, in the medium- to long-term, we try and sort out the existing issues with low water levels, the aerators and any blocking of the lake inlet.”
The lake at St George’s Park.(Image: BristolLive)
Councillor Heather Mack, Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council, previously said: “We have sadly become aware of reports of dead swans in St George Park, with avian botulism suspected as the cause. We are actively working with our partners while we investigate further.
“This naturally occurring toxin is more commonly found during the warmer months. Due to the prolonged hot and dry weather we have experienced, water levels in St George Park have reached historic lows, creating conditions in which the toxin can thrive.
“Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere across the country as dry conditions continue to affect local waterways and we are closely monitoring the situation.
“Avian botulism poses a very low risk to human health. However, we are advising residents to avoid contact with the water and follow official guidance to help us mitigate its spread and protect our local wildlife.”