The majority of them are not nice people, that's the problem. [2] The caustic quicklime dissolved in the water gives it a pH level of 11.3 (by comparison bleach has a pH of 12.3). The quarry was used by the Royal Air Force as a chemical weapons storage depot during the Second World War, the largest such depot in the United Kingdom. She told Derbyshire Live: "It was the worst it has ever been at the weekend, it's never been that bad. Firefighters are echoing calls from colleagues at Derbyshire police warning people to stay away from a flooded quarry at Harpur Hill in Buxton and not to enter the dangerous water. Video, 'Loudspeaker and motorbike schools' beat Covid fears, 'I focus on earning money and then leaving Hong Kong' Video, 'I focus on earning money and then leaving Hong Kong', India's Covid-19 outbreak in 200 seconds. "And to be truthful with you they're abusive. The calcium oxide in the water turns it alkaline with a pH level of 11.3, only slightly lower than bleach (ph 12.6) and ammonia (pH 11.5) - toxic enough to cause skin and eye irritations, stomach problems and fungal infections. Traffic problems in Harpur Hill, caused by visitors to the 'Blue Lagoon', When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. A quarry lake, officially known as Hoffman Quarry but also known as the Blue Lagoon, at the site became a tourist attraction owing to its vivid turquoise-blue coloration. North Korea: What we know about the 'massive' new missile on parade, Denver protest death: Demonstrator shot during rival rallies, Latest news and stories from the East Midlands. Dusty Linden, a barber in the village, described Monday as ‘horrendous’. [5] It has attracted visitors from across the country. Families living near notorious Derbyshire pool have had enough, Sign up to receive two FREE daily bulletin e-mails, as well as breaking news as it happens. Villagers living in the shadow of Buxton's notorious "Blue Lagoon" say their lives are being made a misery by the frequent influxes of youths who flock to the shores of the lime quarry-pond whenever the sun shines. But that message, which is explicitly spelled out on signs that ask visitors "would you swim in ammonia or bleach? "At this point we had walked for over four hours and come across maybe 20 or 30 people. Derbyshire fire crews attend moorland fire, The faces of 10 Derbyshire criminals brought to justice in September. People have been reported to be putting their lives at risk on a daily basis at the flooded quarry. It said extra patrols had been put in place. Warning over toxic Harpur Hill 'Blue Lagoon' Published 15 August 2012. Swimmers are also warned of the dangers of dumped cars, animal carcasses and excrement beneath the pond, but these signs are also ignored and appear to do nothing to stop people swimming above and below the surface. They regularly plunge a black dye into the water, but it only lasts a short while and is dispersed by people swimming. The water is a brilliant turquoise blue that looks like something from the Mediterranean. The RAF disposed of chemical weapons, including mustard gas and phosgene, by burning it with bleach on the surrounding hills. On Friday, Paul Hawker, of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, warned of the dangers of swimming in the toxic water - which harbours other dangers in the water including old cars and animal carcasses. “It was just beyond anything other than crowd control or keeping traffic moving.”. [3], During the Second World War it was the largest chemical weapons storage depot in the country, covering some 500 acres (2.0 km2). He said the clip was recorded on Monday and asked police and the fire service what was being done to prevent swimming. Residents of Harpur Hill have looked into draining the water in the past, but there is nowhere for the toxic soup to go to without polluting the local water-course, and it is feared it would soon refill anyway. VideoIs 'black tax' a help or a burden? Not only can it be harmful to the skin, there are hidden dangers in the water, with cars and animal carcasses at the bottom of the Harpur Hill lagoon. The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was walking in the area and saw "many hundreds of people" at the quarry, including "at least five" in the water.