RESIDENTS in South Cerney are 'furious' that they will no longer be able to enjoy a lake after it was fenced off.

Families living at the Cerney on the Water development were recently shocked to find a fence put up around the nearby lake by housing developers Redrow.

Swimming and public usage of the lake, which is leased to South Cerney Sailing Club, is not permitted, but neighbours said the fencing is unfair as it stops people from being able to sit by the lake and enjoy the view.

Catherine Wang, 35, of Nightingale Way, said: “Nobody can sit next to the lake anymore. I don’t think it’s right to do that.

“Most residents are furious about this, as we bought houses here because this lakeside park and it is called Cerney on the Water - not fenced water and we are paying the maintenance fee for this lakeside park.

“Cotswold District Council (CDC) said Redrow are going to put hedges for screening, which means that later, you probably will not be able to see anything.

“Redrow used the excuse that in the summer, some people not from South Cerney came here to barbeque and swim in the lake. How about putting some proper signing.

“We suggested a gated entrance to Redrow, simply because fencing the half of the lake will not stop people swimming.

“It’s a pity, the fence blocks the beauty of nature.”

In response, Redrow released a statement, saying: “Lake 16 of the Cotswold Water Park is run by South Cerney Sailing Club and swimming is not permitted in the lake for safety reasons.

“The fence was erected in order to keep people safe after reports of individuals accessing the lake via the open space and swimming.

“The fence concerned is a waist high wire fence erected along the southern portion of the open space only, with the primary views of the lake unaffected.”

CDC clarified that Redrow were not in breach of any planning rules: “Having checked the various planning approvals for the Cerney on the Water development it would appear that ‘permitted development’ rights for walls or fencing have not been removed from the site.

“This, therefore, allows fencing to be erected without the submission of a planning application, and as a consequence the fencing erected is outside the control of the Local Planning Authority.

“Our understanding is that the fencing was erected in response to complaints received from local residents when people accessed the water for swimming, and created considerable noise and disturbance.”

An email by a CDC officer to Mrs Wang also suggested that Redrow was intending to plant a hedge “to provide screening”.

But the spokesperson for Redrow said: “I believe different options are being considered for how to prevent people swimming in the lake but no decision has been made.”

South Cerney Sailing Club commodore Malcolm Stone stressed that no swimming was allowed on the lake as it is “extremely dangerous”.

He explained: “There is weed and there would be boats sailing around there. It is strictly not allowed. Nobody other than people in the club should be in the water. But we can’t strictly police that.

“People have drowned in the lake before now and it’s something that really worries us.”