Owners of viral lagoon that got ruined by Instagrammers during the Covid pandemic are warning people to stay away

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:52, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 22:52, 21 July 2026 Day trippers have been warned to stay away from a lagoon that was ruined by Instagrammers when it went viral during the pandemic. The owners of the 'Blue Lagoon' near Port Talbot, South Wales, installed barriers and an entry fee to ward off crowds, who have caused problems with litter and traffic. But visitors have kept flocking to the scenic spot, with vandals bashing down the barriers and continuing to walk along the dam face. Leisure Estate Investments Ltd, which bought the reservoir for £20,000 at auction in 2024, said it has now 'strictly banned' anyone from the site. It has long-term ambitions to open up the water as a public attraction, but said 'significant private funding' is needed first - and wants people to stay away in the meantime. The 30m-deep turquoise pool, real name Brombil Reservoir, is accessible only by a steep 900m public footpath. Villagers in neighbouring Margam pushed back during the pandemic when the area was blighted by mass crowds travelling up to 200 miles. They complained of illegal parking on the side of the road, traffic jams, and disgusting accumulations of litter. The stunning Brombil Reservoir, known as the 'Blue Lagoon', went viral during lockdown for its turquoise water Crowds left disgusting accumulations of litter around the site, enraging locals in nearby villagers  Influencers flocked to the lagoon in search of th perfect photo for Instagram  Leisure Estate purchased the popular site with a view to creating a 'public-private' space that visitors could enjoy. But the process appears to have been more complicated than the company bargained for.   At the start of the month, it imposed a £2 entry fee - which must be paid online - and threatened a £100 penalty or legal action against anyone who dodged it. Anyone caught littering would face a £1,000 fine, it warned, with surveillance cameras letting them keep an eye. It banned all activities at the lagoon without prior consent from the company, including swimming, hiking, motorbiking, filming, and camping. In its latest statement this week, Leisure Estate said: 'We have strictly banned [people] from going there and walking on the face of the dam. 'Our long-term vision has always been to build a sustainable public-private framework so the community can safely enjoy this asset. 'However, managing a critical piece of infrastructure presents immense structural, environmental, and financial challenges that cannot be indefinitely sustained by a private entity alone.' Large numbers of cars would park up illegally on the roadside, causing havoc for local drivers  Some visitors would carelessly discard their rubbish - prompting the new owners to threaten £1,000 fines  The reservoir plays a vital role in flood protection, helping shield downstream residential areas, and has a 'unique aquatic ecosystem' that has faced 'severe environmental degradation caused by fly-tipping and littering', the company said. It added that requirements from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for high-risk dams had increased significantly, and tens of thousands of pounds are required to make it compliant. Speaking in 2021, at the height of the lagoon's popularity, local Catherine Morris, 54, said: 'It's been really chaotic. It's dangerous and we are just afraid that something is going to happen. 'Last summer it all started. Somebody put pictures on Facebook and put the postcode up. Before lockdown we never had any trouble and it would only be local people going up. 'It's not like we don't want people to have a good time. We want people to have fun but be respectful of locals.' Police, councillors and local residents were forced to hold a series of meetings amid concerns over illegal parking, abandoned rubbish and dog fouling. Leisure Estate has since claimed to have repeatedly asked for support from Neath Port Talbot Council and local politicians to help fund and preserve the reservoir, but had received no response. It added: 'We genuinely want to work constructively with Neath Port Talbot Council, NRW, and our political representatives to deliver a safe, biodiverse, and secure site.' The company has warned it may be forced to 'decommission the reservoir' without public sector support. It added: 'This would unfortunately eliminate the area's primary flood defence and destroy a vital ecological habitat. 'We sincerely hope local authorities will join us at the table to find a sustainable, shared way forward.' Neath Port Talbot Council said it had 'offered advice where appropriate' to the reservoir owners. A spokesperson said: 'As the site is privately owned, decisions regarding its operation and investment are a matter for the owner. 'Any future arrangements should ensure that visitor activity is managed responsibly and does not place undue pressure on local communities. 'We remain open to constructive dialogue with the owner.'