'How many boys must die before owner is allowed to drain tragic quarry?'

On July 10, 2022, East Quarry in Appley Bridge was packed with teenagers.

As temperatures soared, the spot had become popular with youths looking for somewhere to cool off and have some fun. The site is privately-owned but during the warmer months it attracts hundreds of youngsters who jump into the clear waters from the cliff edge.

But just one day earlier, East Quarry had been the scene of a tragedy. Just two metres from the water's Jamie Lewiin had got into trouble.

Despite his friends' desperate attempts to save him, the 16-year-old, from Southport, sank beneath the surface and drowned.

He was the third teenager to die East Quarry. This week, a coroner warned it is only a matter of time before there is a fourth.

READ MORE:

• Mum of first tragic teen to drown in lethal Appley Bridge quarry warns of swimming dangers

• Parents issued plea as coroner warns 'it's not a case of if, but when' another child dies

On September 26, 1999, after going swimming with friends, 17-year-old Craig Croston jumped off one of the ledges, swam the full length of the quarry and got to the other side.

His mum, Ann Croston, said: "He climbed up the hill to go back and jumped into the water again, and when he got halfway across, friends said they could see there was something happening, and then he just disappeared from sight."

Hours later, Craig's body was pulled from the water.

In 2015, promising rugby league starlet Miracle Godson disappeared after jumping into the water. he 13-year-old played for a junior side at Wigan St Judes Rugby League Club in Wigan and according to club bosses, he had great potential for the future.

Scouts had been monitoring his progress.

Horrified friends watched as he disappeared beneath the water. They were unable to save him.

In July 2022, 16-year-old Jamie Lewin became the third boy to die after getting into difficulty at East Quarry in Appley Bridge. Following an inquest this week, his family have now asked "how many more must die?" before the land-owner is given permission to drain it.

East Quarry is one of several sites owned by Peter O'Dowd's firm Maybrook Investments. He claims his efforts to make the quarry safe have been hampered by various councils and planning authorities.

Although Mr O'Dowd's account is disputed, by some local residents and councillors who say he is yet to submit the correct documentation, all are in agreement that something must be done. And, perhaps most significantly, Jamie's family support Mr O'Dowd's bid to drain and fill the quarry.

At an inquest into Jamie's death, held in Preston, his parents asked: "Where does it end? They won't let him do anything with it. Is it just going to keep happening? There's been three deaths. How many more must die before something is done?"

Since quarrying at the site ended in 1992 there have been several attempts to redevelop the land.

In 2011 outline planning permission was granted to allow the previous owner Wendy Scott to build residential units (on land and on water), a hotel, a restaurant/boathouse, a car park and a new community centre at the site but no work was started.

Mr O'Dowd bought the land in 2018 and, since then, has submitted several planning applications relating to draining and infilling the quarry. While his ultimate aim has always been to develop the site he maintains that his first priority is making the quarry safe.

At a public meeting of Wrightington Parish Council, held in July 2022 after Jamie's death, the councillors and members of the public who were present agreed that something needed to be done to prevent further fatalities.

In a letter seen by LancsLive the council clerk wrote: "At the Parish Council meeting last night there were differing views on what should bedone at East Quarry, Appley Bridge, following the tragic loss of Jamie Lewin's life.

"The majority of the residents present expressed their wish that East Quarry is drained and filled in to prevent any future tragedies such as this.

"The Parish Council therefore wish it to be known that they support the proposals of Maybrook Developments to drain and fill East Quarry to remove the dangers associated with the quarry and to prevent a recurrence of the recent tragedy."

Planning documents and notices, seen by LancsLive, reveal the steps Mr O'Dowd has taken in order to drain and fill the quarry over the last six years. He believes that removing the water from the quarry, and filling it in, is the only way to prevent further deaths.

In June 2021, after being granted a permit to drain the quarry by the Environment Agency, Mr O'Dowd submitted an application to Lancashire County Council seeking permission to construct a new access ramp which would allow equipment to be installed at the site.

Planning officer Jonathan Haine recommended the application be approved but the council's planning committee voted to refuse permission.

Mr O'Dowd's application was rejected on the grounds that the construction of an access ramp would generate "volumes of HGV movements that would be harmful to the amenity of local residents" and that he had not adequately demonstrated the development would not have an adverse impact on bat colonies.

However, in a formal consultation response, Lancashire County Council's own highways department raised no objections and said: "The proposal would use an established access to the public highway and the size and nature of the proposals should have a negligible impact on highway safety and highway capacity within the immediate vicinity of the site."

Mr O'Dowd then discovered that he would be able to construct the ramp without obtaining planning permission through a principle known as permitted development.

However, Lancashire County Council informed him that he would still need to apply for this, and in order to do so would need to submit an environmental impact assessment.

After this week's inquest Mr O'Dowd told LancsLive that commissioning such an assessment will be his next step but warned that it could "still be years" before the quarry is finally made safe.