A PETITION to bring swimming back to the Maldon lakes is set to be handed to the district council.

Swimming in the lakes has been banned since 2002 when 45-year-old Kevin Gay died after he hit his head on a submerged post when diving in.

An online petition was started in May and received overwhelming support from residents in Maldon, with more than 3,000 signing up to the cause.

The number of signatures achieved means the plans must be discussed by Maldon District Council at a full council meeting.

Organisers of the petition hope councillors will recognise the amount of goodwill there is for the swimming lakes and look at bringing it back to Promenade Park.

Lisa Cullumbine, one of those behind the petition, said: “The amount of support we have had from people is great, and all of the meetings we have had with the council and councillors have been very positive as well.

“The support gives you a lot of confidence and makes you think that what you are doing will have an impact on everybody for the better.

“We are in the process of getting all the different documents together now, and then we will be sending them to the council. We want to make sure they are happy with everything.”

Lisa believes the return of the swimming lakes will help to rejuvenate Promenade Park.

She added: “There is not a lot for older children there if we are honest. Some people say there is Blackwater Leisure Centre if they want to swim, but that is not proper fresh water.

“We are having a lot of people come up to us and say that they used to use the lake and that they miss it now. All of us are very positive about our chances of getting this through. I think it will be good for the park.”