Harmful levels of algae have forced Wirral Council to close a boating lake in the borough.
The lake on Gautby Road in Birkenhead temporarily closed for safety reasons on June 24, but discoveries by the Environment Agency mean it cannot reopen.
Inspectors found “harmful levels” of blue-green algae are present in the boating lake.
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This type of algae is known to be dangerous to both humans and animals.
A date for the lake’s reopening has not been set, but all visitors are asked to avoid the water and to keep dogs and animals on leads when near the lake.
The Environment Agency will now carry out inspections of the water to determine when it is safe to reopen the lake again.
In the meantime, Wirral Council and Birkenhead Radio Sailing and Power Club will carry out so-called ‘aeration works’.
This involves pumping oxygen into the water to increase water flow and lower the amount of blue-green algae.
If further tests reveal the dangerous algae remains in high concentrations, treatments will be looked at to ensure the lake can open once again.
Signs have been installed to tell people using the area that the lake is closed and to reinforce the reason for its closure.
