Leeds river dangers alert

[Robbo]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-river-dangers-alert.6715195.jp

 

Another tragedy has highlighted river dangers. In a city where we increasingly live and work by the waterside, how can we prevent further tragedies?

 

THE obvious answer, it seems, is to fence off the stretch of the River Aire which runs through the heart of Leeds.

 

That way anyone who gets drunk, trips or just takes a wrong turn won't find themselves plunged into the potentially deadly waters.

 

The circumstances of Ben Manning's death in Wakefield appear to indicate he may have suffered such a fate, and the tragedy has put the spotlight on the issue of waterside safety.

 

Inevitably demands to put railings by the banks of the Aire, even parts of the Leeds/Liverpool canal, will follow.

 

But is it that simple? There are two well-known fatalities which would suggest there is.

 

In January, 2008 19-year-old student Gavin Terry died when he appears

to have fallen into the River Aire after a night out on nearby Call Lane in Leeds city centre. And only last year the case of Matthew Wilcox, also a 19-year-old student, appears to have been a carbon copy.

 

And they are the cases which the public has come to know about, many others are dealt with by police.

 

Acting Chief Superintendent Paul Money, of West Yorkshire Police's City and Holbeck Division, said: "Our officers deal with incidents of this nature on an all-too-regular basis, so much so that our vehicles now carry water rescue kits complete with throw lines.

 

"The recent tragedies in the River Aire have all, we believe, involved people entering the water from the pathways at the side. However, the vast majority of incidents we are called to involve people intent on self-harm entering the water from one of the bridges.

 

"There have been a number of near-misses in recent months too, including one woman who is only still here today because the first

officer on the scene happened to be a trained diver.

 

"Even then, when he entered the water he was lucky enough to find an underwater ledge to stand on as he held her, in what was a very fast-flowing current. Other people won't be that lucky.

 

"Now that the waterways have been urbanised there will inevitably be a higher level of risk simply because of the much higher footfall than in previous years, and it is important that we use every opportunity to encourage people using the footpaths to take care at all times. That said, we would always welcome any measures which make the waterways and surrounding footpaths safer."

 

But what measures?

 

Peter Wade is safety adviser for British Waterways who have responsibility for the navigation of our waterways, He says railings aren't necessarily the panacea they might seem to be.

 

"I can understand why many people may think that." he says. "But some people will sit on railings which is dangerous, some people, who think it's clever to jump in the water, may use them as a diving platform. I even dealt with a case of a woman who tripped on the edge of a marina and managed to go head first through the gap in railings.

 

"Railings do provide some safety when you're talking about entry points to waterways, just as railings also help on certain busy roads and junctions.

 

"Another thing to remember is that railings can hinder rescuing someone from the water - whether they've fallen off a boat or fallen in from a walkway - can be hindered by railings. And we have a duty to river users to let them moor their boats and get off, which railings would block."

 

Another exacerbating factor is that, particularly along the edge of the River Aire, some land is owned by Leeds City Council, but an increasing amount is the responsibility of the companies and private management organisations behind the numerous city living residences and leisure facilities.

 

They are, inadvertently, part of the growing problem. As more and more people walk along the riverside, more and more people put themselves at risk.

 

More people live, work and socialise in what was once a no-go zone of industrial hinterland. Students, who are invariably inexperienced drinkers, have grown in numbers too.

 

This is a particularly concerning phenomenon given that a great number of students now live in waterside accommodation.

 

Rachel Clunas is project officer for Aire Action Leeds, an organisation which brings together all the relevant bodies - the local authority, private firms, the Environment Agency and British waterways - and looks to solve many of the related problems.

 

She said: "Part of the issue has been the variety of organisations with so many different levels of responsibility dealing with things in different ways.

 

"What we try to do is work together towards common goals, one of which is safety.

 

"But the solutions aren't obvious. A large part of the riverside is already fenced off and it isn't as simple as trying ton cut the water off from the pathways.

 

"We believe the answer is more about education.

 

It's about informing people, predominantly young people, about the dangers and, in particular, the dangers of drinking and walking in these areas, especially late at night.

 

"So we've targeted students with literature and we're also working with other organisations targeting the wider socialising population.

 

"What's key is making people aware of the dangers and how to avoid them. It may seem obvious, but if you think about it we're all taught about road safety at school, but up until now, most of us have never had to consider river safety."

[canaldrifter]

I had quite a bit to do with Peter Wade when I was Safety Officer for Nabo. He's a top bloke. Not over the top. Just top. Safety is important, but H&S often goes over the top.

 

Tone

[larkshall]

we get three or four drownings a year in York either on the Ouse or some of the city canals...Usually students, always piddled

[Grace and Favour]

I think we should start by putting railings across all of the coastline . . .

 

All too often I've seen people whom voluntarily enter the water with little regard for their safety -

[pearley]

Just walked along the river. There is about 150 yards between Crown Point Bridge and Brewery Wharf which are unfenced but could be fenced without causing any problems to boaters. I don't think the trip boat stops at Brewery Wharf anymore. The land on the Calls Lane/City side is mostly private property but the bit at the end of Brewery Wharf Bridge is fenced.

 

As for Wakefield, the towpath alongside the canal is not really on a footpath to anywhere and whilst it is accessible it means a longish walk down the ramps from the road bridge. A great chunk of it is Visitor Moorings so shouldn't be fenced anyway but the new housing being built might change all this.

[Robbo]

Just walked along the river. There is about 150 yards between Crown Point Bridge and Brewery Wharf which are unfenced but could be fenced without causing any problems to boaters.

 

Apart from a bit in one area near the Oracle, the path is very wide, it doesn't need it here. The people that have "fallen" in the river have done so where there's fencing!