Council to call for change in law after Ulley reservoir deaths

Labour’s Cllr Dave Sheppard, cabinet member for social inclusion, has proposed the motion calling for action by the justice secretary.

Ulley Reservoir saw the deaths of 16-year-old Sam Haycock last May and 19-year-old Khizar Hayat in September.

Sam’s dad has campaigned for a change after discovering that vandalising defibrillator cabinets and water-side throwlines was simply classed as criminal damage, although a debate in the House of Lords was told it could still carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

Cllr Sheppard said: “In any emergency, time is critical and every second of delay worsens the chances of a positive outcome. 

“Last year, two young men tragically lost their lives after getting into difficulty in the water at Ulley reservoir.

“As with all our open water sites, lifesaving equipment is in place but kept behind a keypad lock for security, which requires a telephone call to obtain the code to release the lock.

“We therefore call upon the government to implement legislation to make it a specific offence to destroy or damage lifesaving equipment, enabling suitable equipment to be instantly available in times of emergency.”

The motion contains a further commitment for RMBC to work alongside the Haycock family and key partners to raise awareness of the dangers of open water.

Tomorrow’s meeting — back at Rotherham Town Hall at 2pm — also includes finalising the budget for 2022/23.