Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Railings to go up alongside River Severn in Shrewsbury
Tuesday 30th August 2011, 11:45AM BST.
The River Severn Weir in Shrewsbury
Railings will be put up alongside key areas of the River Severn in Shrewsbury to try to cut the number of deaths in the water, officials said today.
The barriers will go up along a stretch of the river near the weir and between the railway and St Mary’s Water Lane as part of a bid to improve safety.
But council officials say the river cannot be turned into a fortress and they have no plans for barriers at the site where a man went missing earlier this month.
A taskforce involving police, fire and Shropshire Council is installing the barriers after reviewing safety.
Tim Sneddon, head of environmental maintenance at Shropshire Council, said that despite calls for the river to be fenced off following the death of father-of-one Mark Hodnett earlier this month, it was “impossible” to make it a fortress.
The body of the 27-year-old, of Grange Road, Radbrook, was pulled from the river on August 18.
He had been missing for several days after he was last seen leaving a nightclub in the town.
Mr Sneddon said: “We are looking at putting railings where there is an increased risk of people falling in – even if they are have been consuming alcohol.
“I think there are some railings to go on short sections near the weir. It’s where there is possible access to the river between a footpath and towpath.
“If there was a child on a bicycle or a lady who accidentally let go of a buggy it’s possible they could go in so we are looking at improvements there.
“Frankwell isn’t an area we have been looking at because we don’t think railings in these areas are going to be effective.”
Mr Sneddon said the work would also involve working with bars and nightclubs to help change attitudes and behaviours.
He said young people would also be encouraged to ensure their friends made it home safely at the end of an evening by leaving together or arranging for taxis.
But Matt Everington, friend of Mr Hodnett, who is behind a Facebook petition calling for dangerous areas of the river to be fenced off, said more needed to be done to prevent further tragedies.
He said: “There are a lot of areas where people can gain access too easily, especially down by the Boathouse. I don’t think railings are going to be enough anyway.
“A few people have suggested CCTV so if anything was reported or someone did go in the authorities could spot them quicker and track where they might go in.”
By Russell Roberts
Most Commented
- Leader: Hospital parking suggestion simply nonsense
- Leader: Crimewave goes up with the mercury
- MP Owen Paterson opposed to same-sex marriages
- Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Hospital 18-week waiting list down to 800
- Parking zones fear for Shropshire hospital workers
- Protesters: We await problems at Shropshire hospitals
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
What a waste of time.
Completely ignoring the issue of why people are falling in the river. And it has little to do with no barriers and a lot more to do with alcohol.
So what happens if people do go in the river along this stretch? There are now barrier preventing them getting out!!
Report abuse
I knowthis is a very emotive subject, but I really hope the Council do stay to their word and make sure the riverway isn’t turn into a fortress.
The deaths are very sad for everyone concerned, but the udnerlying issue is peoplegetting drunk and deciding to go near the river when they walk home. Why should the river be fenced off just because people can’t make their way home safely? Manchester and Birmingham have many canal routes, where people walk and I don’t think the level of river accidents/deaths is anything like Shrewsbury’s.
I believe the river paths should be made safer, but I’d rather see lighting used than fences.
Report abuse
Is this the beginning of turning the river into an unsightly fortress. Will this now deter visitors to the town who come to enjoy a walk along the river bank.
Report abuse
wow, its nice to know you think of the look instead of people lives!!
Report abuse
The people should think of their own lives before getting drunk and walking home along the river.
Report abuse
Agreed. The deaths that have happened are very sad but rivers are dangerous, you can’t fence them all off. Same with roads!
Report abuse
Well I think putting the look of the town over human life is ridiculous. You hopefully will never lose someone you know or love to the river but surely you should be thinking saving a life is more crucial than a view! Shrewsbury is a small town and the majority of night life is within the small loop of the river so yes people will be near it when they have been drinking. I think you miss the important fact that people don’t always think practicaly & make clear decisions when they have had alcohol so the safer we can make it the better.
Report abuse
Prevention rather than cure is a good idea and whilst I sympathise with the families who have lost loved ones in this was – a very large majority of these deaths have occured when the victims have been known to have been drinking alcohol. We shouldn’t have to compensate for this by fencing the beautiful river out of everyones reach – perhaps its the drinking that needs to be prevented in the first instance – to cure the accidents?
Report abuse
One of our good friends was pulled out of the river after being missing for a number of weeks . He didnt drink and did not live in Shrewsbury ( he lived in Telford ). Therefore they are not all “drunks” making their way home.Pointless putting these railings up now. Just amazes me nobody falls into the river at Ironbridge or Bridgnorth where there are plenty of public houses by the riverside .
Report abuse
But there is a railing at Ironbridge
Report abuse
There are also railings in Bridgnorth.
Report abuse
I don’t live in Shrewsbury, so please feel free to correct me if anyone thinks I’m speaking out of turn here …
The deaths that have occured, as awful and distressing as they have been, have sadly all been preventable.
Not by baracading the river off from the majority of townsfolk who seem, over a very long period of time, to have survived and prospered along it’s banks, but by people taking responsibility for themselves; not getting absolutely plastered and thinking they are invincible.
It is about time people stopped aportioning blame for these tragic events on either your local council or a natural phenomenon which has been there long before any human settlement, and will probably be there long after we have all destroyed ourselves.
It seems to me the most appropriate and effective way to prevent any such further loss of life is to hold the numerous drinking establishments to boot – after all, it is they who are only too willing to carry on serving people to the point of oblivion in the name of the holy profit – pubs and clubs should be taxed heavily per drink sold to cover the cost of policing the nighttime economy, cleaning up after the night before and …. how about the cost of providing river marshalls so the products of their commercial greed can stagger home without falling foul of mother nature ????
Report abuse
Prevent further loss of life? Won’t they just climb over the top???
Report abuse
This is just going to make the river bank look very unsightly and does anyone think it can stop a drunk? No, drunk people think that they are invincible and will just climb over the railings.
What’s next, 7 foot high barbed wire fence?
Report abuse
Well this is the start of things to come, barriers and railings along the river making it look like a fortress. Soon you won’t be able to fish, walk your dog or cycle along it because it will be deemed as ‘too un-safe’.
All people need is common sense.
Report abuse
While your at it, put some railings up along all the roads. All those people that get run over or fall off the kerb.
Report abuse
Accidents, unfortunately, can’t be prevented. Cliffs, cars, motorbikes, rivers, ladders, the sea….. They all pose a risk…….
Report abuse
I have to disagree with the negative comments regarding railings along this stretch of river. I occasionally cycle this route with my 10 year old children and during a nice day it can be quite busy – this can be off putting for them and I fear the risk of them falling in the river. Also some of the older (who should know better) cyclists won’t move over so my children can cycle near the wall – they have to veer toward the waterside. If railings are installed I would certainly be using this route more often.
However railings do not have to be unsightly. Over the summer I visited London – at no place within the tourist area was the river not guarded off. The difference being that in places (by the Eye) there was decorative walls and by Tower bridge railings which had a design. Therefore please design protection around the river as this can add to the surroundings and don’t just put up the cheapest and unsightliest barriers available – take the time to get it right.
I would disagree with putting railings around the Quarry as here there is a good bank, several walkways and plenty of space – this I agree should be left to peoples common sense.
Report abuse
I’d say this is a pretty big win, shame it only took 20 people to loose their lives.
Report abuse
How many of those people would have gone in regardless of the railings?
There is a lot more to this than simply not having railings because this is all a very recent thing to happen.
The root causes need to be looked at and not put up a load of railings due to a knee jerk reaction.
Report abuse
What will you be saying after No. 21 Ben? Sadly it WILL happen, then the “fence it off” squad will probably demand a 10ft high steel mesh fence topped with razor wire.
According to the official statement, above, there are NO plans for barriers where the last victim went missing,so, even if the proposed fences had been in place, he would still have fallen in.
This is not the answer. As Derek said, in post 8, there are many dangers in life today, and, accidents will happen. The fact is, that someone who is drunk, or semi-drunk, will increase their chances of being involved in an accident as they are not fully in control of themselves.
You cannot blame the river.
Report abuse
Actually, 20 out of 80 incidents involving the river in the past few years were alcohol related (not all died). That is 60 were sober. This proves that alcohol and river incidents are not correlated. Where is your logic now?
Report abuse
But how many of the once who died were intoxicated i think youll find its most of them,
Report abuse
Colin D. I totally agree with you. How long will it be before the trees are cut down to prevent people from hanging themselves. If you can’t take your ale don’t drink.
If you drink then learn to swim.
Report abuse
We haven’t won yet Ben! We may have won the battle, but we need to be prepared to wage a war!!!
Report abuse
War? Really Allie?
I suggest you get yourself a life…
Report abuse
They have railings in ironbridge and they look great. I think certain parts of the river need them.
Report abuse
I am sincerely saddened by the deaths, however i wholeheartidly agree with comments on here. The river has been here for 100′s of years, sadly the thing that has changed is people attotute towards safety, if they want to get in the river they will a fence wont help!
Report abuse
well from some of the comments I see that people would rather the river ‘look pretty’ than prevent people from dying! how nice some of the people in Shrewsbury are!! not all of the deaths in the river have been down to people being ‘drunk’ so think very carefully before you type as 2 of my friends have sadly died in the river!
Report abuse
two people close to me have also died in the river, but i see them as a victim of alcohol and not a victim of the river.
Yes i think the general opinion across Shrewsbury is that we would rather see the river ‘look pretty’ as im afraid to say this but the people that have died have only themselves to blame
Report abuse
What happens if someone does go into the river?
Would the railings not prevent them from getting out again?
Report abuse
please put railings up along the river severen has too many lifes are lost and families losing members of their family it is not fair or right ny more. please stop people losing loved ones now. How many more have got to go through the hert broke nd the pain of being told that their loved one has been found in the blasing river befpr you do it
Report abuse
Whats next bubblewrap for cars? Seriously, people need to stop getting so drunk and wandering off along the river, if you put a fence up drunk people will just climb it
Report abuse
Just wait for the first flood as flotsam in the form of a tree wraps itself around the railings and drags it and half the footpath away.
No amount of barriers can prevent the drunk or suicidal from getting into the river, it just means they’ll have to go around or over them.
Report abuse
shame but agree the lack of fences is not the cause they should prevent with other measures lighting, life bouys, education, buses, evening taxis and such instead
Report abuse
I strongly believe that fencing and railings should not be put up. As it will spoil the river for the rest of us. Just because some people think its ok to get drunk and walk home along the river. I think it would be better to spend money educating some seemingly uneducated people not to get drunk and walk along the river home.
Why should the rest of us have our river banks ruined
Report abuse
There was a piece in the very interesting Chronicle column which relates to events which happened in the county in various years from 250 years ago to the present day and one of these concerned a 12 year old boy who was saved from drowning in the river in Shrewsbury about a hundred years ago by clinging onto chains hanging along the river bank. I don’t know where the event happened but the chains would have to be attatched to parts of the river which had walls. If chains were used where there were no walls along the river bank ie.bushes, trees they could be fixed to posts.just a thought.
Report abuse
I dont think fencing should be put up, If someone is intent on going for a drunken dip or commit suicide them no amount of fencing will deter them.
Report abuse
agree with agatha2, leave the river alone, are we going to see the council fence off the boat house, the quarry, the rea brook, the rad brook or even the waterless shrewsbury arm of the shropshire union canal. if someone is determined they will do it drunk or sober. get a grip council times are tough, please stop wasting ratepayers har earned cash.
friend of the rad brook
Report abuse
Its a sad fact that people drunk or sober have died as a result of accidental drowning in the river for many many years. It is unlikely that the railings will prevent this sort of accident from re-occuring. It seems to me to be an almost unavoidable consequence of having the river in such close proximity to the town. I do hope that the council will think very carefully before reacting to calls to make the river banks a safer place, and more than that, that people should try to be aware of the danger and keep away particularly in the dark and following fun filled nights out in the town, The saddness and loss felt by family and friends left behind following such accidents must be unbearable
Report abuse
God save us from The Health and Safety clowns.
How strange they have the money to do it.
They have just closed a day centre in Harlescott due to lack of money. They were doing a great job there, but no more.
If you walk near the river you may fall in.If you walk in the road you may get run over.
It’s just up to you.
Report abuse
Many people commenting above seem to have remarkable powers of prescience; they somehow know that railings will not prevent further drownings.
Report abuse
Flatten the Wrekin, its very dangerous because someone could fall off..
Report abuse
Aside from motor accidents, Stairs are our biggest avoidable killer. Everyone should invest in a lift.
Report abuse
utter waste of money. Education cuts, social care cuts, no money for school transport and yet we are spending tens of thousands at least on people without the sense to avoid the river. kneejerk reaction from a hapless council
Report abuse
this is elf and safety gone mad
i blame the eu
what a waste of my council tax
Report abuse
Awarded today’s prize for the greatest number of Daily Mail cliches squeezed into in one comment.
Report abuse
The important word here is accident. Sadly they happen and sometimes with tragic results.
As a society we have to decide how far we are prepared to go to chip away at the accidents that we see as being preventable.
Drunks falling into the river are cuplable and suicide attempts cannot be stopped. Darren and his kids cycling, well, if you don’t like it, don’t do it.
Those in favour of a nanny state and health and safety gone wild will vote for a fence, while I firmly believe we should all take responsibility for our actions and how they might impact others.
No fence for me. Peace.
Report abuse
Since we’re an island nation, does this mean we’ll put fencing and railings along our coastline? We can fix two over egged problems at once.
We should be making the most of our beautiful river, not fencing it off. We’ve lived with it for hundreds of years and only with the rise of alcohol and Facebook has the river has it become a problem.
Steer clear of the waters edge and you’ll be fine. Its simple common sense, something these drunken youngsters don’t seem to understand.
Report abuse
What!!!!!! Drunkenness, yes but Facebook???. Have you ever used Facebook? There are few people I am in touch with who don’t hold PhDs and/or company directorships. It’s an electronic community and you make of it what you wish. It’s simply a medium for keeping in touch with friends and family who are scattered throughout the country and the world.
Yes, it was used during the riots, as were Blackberries, but technology isn’t the problem – it’s a few very antisocial and irresponsible people.
Have a go at fb – it’s great fun.
Best, Kat
Report abuse
Think they meant the way the angry “fence off the river” mob used facebook to whip up support.
Report abuse
Fair play some of you are talking total bull!! I wonder how some of you would feel if you unfortunately lost a member of your family or a loved one to the river. There’s over 3000 followers of the group on facebook who feel very strongly about this and won’t stop until the right thing is done! So get used to it!!
Report abuse
I personally knew two people that have died in the river and one in recent years. All of them were drunk, so im afraid my view still stands that instead of spending money ruining the river for everybody else – spend the money educating the seemingly uneducated people not to get drunk and walk along the river.
Get a taxi instead or walk the longer way home.
Whilst i have sympathy for the families of the victims of the river, tax payers money should not be spent on attempts to prevent this type of thing happening when the victims have brought it on themselves
Report abuse
they will soon be ripped out by the scrap metal theives
Report abuse
omg you lot really are disgusting me!
Report abuse
Why? Because we have an opinion?
There is plenty of compassion here for the families and friends that have lost a loved one through drowning in the river. Be it a complete accident or even with contributory negligence, it is still horrible.
Similarly, I can show sympathy for loss of life through cot death, car accidents, home fires, heart attack, famine, etc …. but we live in a harsh world, some of it through our own doing, some of it not.
We cannot legistlate our way out of accidents any more than we can build fences everywhere to protect everyone.
At the risk of sounding mean, life’s tough, buy a helmet.
Report abuse
If it were possible to come up with some statistics, I wonder what they would tell us.
1) How many people have walked along the river path in the last 10 years?
2) Of that number, how many have fallen in and drowned?
I would imagine the % to be miniscule, and would not warrant the river being classed as dangerous to the public.
Someone intent on suicide would find a way, even if there were a 10ft wall along the entire length of the Severn.
Someone who is drunk would also find a way to endanger themselves, if they were full of bravado, and not in control of their actions.
Someone who is sober, and walking 5 or 6ft away from the edge of the river, even if they fell over, would not be likely to fall in. If they are walking right on the edge, then that is just demonstrating a lack of common sense.
Understandably, the families of those who do die in the river are looking for someone, or something, to blame, but, the responibility does not lie with the river, or the council, it lies with the individual.
Rivers, roads, motorways, tall buildings, railway tracks, tall trees, they can all be a source of danger if abused, so, where do we stop with the fences?
Report abuse
The railings either side of Greyfriars are very attractive. In no way do they detract from the beauty of the river.
It’s easy to think that drownings are due to drunkenness. I have a more positive story (with a happy ending). A brave woman dived into the river near St Mary’s to rescue a baby (not her own) whose buggy rolled into the river. It’s amazing they got out. There are no ladders on the concrete banks.
Report abuse
Rule # 1 – never dive into an unfamiliar river. Jump or preferrably walk, clamber, whatever… but do not dive.
Unless you want your head stuck in a shopping trolley.
Report abuse
Tyrone Shoelaces. I looks like you were awarded your R.L.S.S. medals like me. I passed mine when at school in the 1950s. You never forget what they teach you.
Report abuse
Wow, you all seem very mad about an issue that doesn’t really effect you. But I suppose, you are all tax payers…oh wait, if you’re worried that your taxes are going on safety equipment, perhaps you should also be worried that it is being spent on iPads or statues.
My proposal is to have railings (not 10ft tall steel fences as some of you would believe) along; Victoria Avenue, Adjacent to the play park in the Quarry, From Greyfriars Bridge to the English Bridge, then from the English Bridge to the Weir.
This is not an over-the-top request, these areas are dangerous, pedestrianised walkways and they should have some kind of protection.
There always will be an exception to the rule where someone will climb over and there is nothing we can do about that, we can however, stop people from falling/tripping/slipping in.
And to those criticising alcohol related deaths/incidents, I say again, 20 out of 80 river related incidents involved alcohol. That’s 3 quarters that WERE sober.
Report abuse
Out of those 3/4 how many were intent on throwing themselves in the river and how many were accidental? That would be a useful statistic to know.
Report abuse
A bit selfish, and over the top reaction.All along the river, from the entrance to the Quarry to the play park is a natural river bank, the path is approx 10ft from the river, so how can you fall/trip/slip in the water????? Unless????????
Report abuse
And of that 3/4 how many were otherwise impaired, be it mentally, physically or through the use of chemistry?
There is nothing you can do to prevent people falling/tripping/slipping into the river any more than you can to stop people falling/tripping/slipping on a pavement and falling into a busy street.
If you think there is any likelihood of a fall/trip/slip then walk somewhere away from obvious danger.
In all the area’s you suggest where there should be a fence, put up a warning sign – “Falling into this river may result in serious injury or death”
No to the fence.
To your point, where are all the people saying this money should be spent on mobile libraries, social workers, and maintaining pay for council workers? Gone quiet?
Report abuse
No, I was just busy doing proactive things to do with this campaign rather than try to wind people up.
As tax payers, we have a right to say where our money goes towards and a lot of people are saying that something needs to be done. By this gesture alone, the council have recognised that this is an issue and are putting money towards it.
I tell you what, why don’t you start an anti-campaign, would be interested to see if you’d actually put yourself in the public eye like that.
Report abuse
I completely respect your right to campaign for a cause for which you feel passionate. And hope you respect that right for others.
I will not be starting an anti-fence campaign as I am not a tax payer in Shropshire or the UK and therefore have no financial skin in this game.
My arguement is solely based on choices both for the individuals choosing to walk/ride alongside the river and for the council.
How many lives could be saved by spending this fence money on social services, ambulances, meals on wheels, ….?
Maybe instead of lobbying the council to divert cash to this project you should raise some money locally to pay for the fence?
Report abuse
It seems a lot of people cant think for themselves as per usual and are just going along with the masses, as a means of gaining favor. Well done the god squad, fence off the river because of our towns drinking culture. Im sure other things can be done to prevent further tragedy, such as cctv, lights and police patrols possibly. Some people should really have a job on the council as it seems they know better than anyone and have the final solution. Albeit a very pigeon headed one of fencing of the river.
Report abuse
Sadly, nobody knows *exactly* how or why these unfortunate souls ended up in the river because they’re not around to tell us, so please stop making assumptions.
Report abuse
People are not just making assumptions, but during after their deaths their bodys contained large amounts of alcohol
Report abuse
Some of them, not all.
Of those that did, how do you know they didn’t end up in the river because of a drunken stagger in the wrong direction? A railing – even a low one – could have broken the fall and saved a life.
Report abuse
tragic for the families but tragic for the riverside too, the severn is a semi natural environment it should be preserved as wild not built up
Report abuse
Built up? ‘tragic’ for the river? We’re talking railings here – not tower blocks…
Get over yourself!
Report abuse
Here’s a radical idea i am sure no one has thought about.
How about actually prosecuting landlords for serving drunks more booze? I think you will find that it is already a responsibility of anyone holding a license to serve alcohol that they have a duty of care…
one nightclub licensee behind bars and i am sure you will find the problem will go away:
no expensive railings, no need to change the law, just make those responsible face the consequences of their actions!
Report abuse
Why not close certain sections of river bank at night e.g. with a barrier at the entrance point to make people go round on the road
or
why not illuminate the riverside at night and make it like a real place to hang out with cafes and chairs outside etc
Report abuse
In response to your idea of closing certain sections at night, that would be ruining the use of the river for the rest of people,
Report abuse
Try and bring the eurpoean cafe culture to shrewsbury and with it would come the drinking.
You would end up with the drunks not having to walk to the river as they would already be there, breaking the lights and throwing the chairs and themselves into the river.
Report abuse
so sad and sickening to see that people are concerned about the view of the river banks rather than the practicalities of putting up barriers. i would be much happier to take children etc on bike rides along the river side if barriers were put up and not having to dread them loosing there balance!
some of these daft people are making out theyv never had a drink too many and ended up completeley loosing their minds??
im afraid theres a lot more people who have very bad issues in life,they could be that bad that they see alcohol as there only way of forgetting their probs and with that unfortunatly goes their common sense!!!!!!
jump down of your high horses as not all of us have perfect simple lifes with fab familys!!
as for the silly people saying that the barriers would stop them climbing back out… maybe they would be a better grip for them to climb back out? after all i know that would be the first thing id grab hold off rather than a grassy bank where theres no chance of climbing back out? put yourselfs in others positions and stop acting so jumped up about your perfect views? if your that concerned peer over the barrier and there u have it! your perfect view :)
Report abuse
Most people never have too much to drink to completley lose their mind as you put it.
Im glad theres people like me concerned about the view of the river banks rather than being concerned about the drunk people that have fallen in and drowned, as it is after all self inflicted.
Report abuse
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t the idea of putting up fences along certain areas of the river originally suggested by the Coroner after a consultation with the Major of Leeds? I think if you dig out your old copies of the S.Star you’ll find that a similar scheme was started in Leeds following a number drownings, so the Mayor, Fire Service, and other experts in the field decided to put up some fences. Guess what happened after the fences went up? That’s right, the rate of incidents reduced.
Honestly I’m surprised at the stupidity of some you people. No of course a fence won’t stop somebody deliberately going into the river, but will stop somebody accidentally falling in, as a result of a accident, that they did accidentally, not on purpose. Do I need to draw you picture?
Report abuse
Yes please, but no matchstick men, and preferrably in oil on canvas.
Report abuse
total waste of money
the comon theme is not lack of barriers its booze
sorry but sober people dont tend to fall in and when they do they can climb out
so target the booze not the riverside
prevention is ALWAYS better than cure!!!!
Report abuse
Wrong. More sober people have fallen in than drunk people.
Report abuse
I suffer badly from vertigo which is not, as people often think, purely related to heights. I can get very disorientated when near the river, and can often be drawn towards the edge of the path if I’m at the beginning of an episode, however I quite simply avoid walking by the river if I don’t feel entirely “with it”, and never walk near it alone-considering that I live in the centre of town it takes a little planning sometimes but it’s possible.
I don’t favour further railings-why spoil it for the majority of sensible, sober people? I feel very sorry for those who have lost friends and family to the river, however if reports of personal belongings being found on the bank on some occasions are to be believed, it appears likely that some of these incidents were more than just a clumsy slip. Perhaps a bit more education is what’s needed-people live in concrete and brick boxes on concrete and asphalt estates and often seem to forget that they are living with a powerful elemental force in their midst. Anyone else old enough to remember the old public information films about deep water?
Report abuse
health and safety should insist that all platforms at shrewsbury station should be fenced off and entry to and exit from a train should be via turnstiles. there you are council something for you to do. where will it end, fence off pavements. oh nanny what a state we are in. floreat salopia
friend of the rad brook
Report abuse
There are, of course, already railings at the bottom of St Mary’s Water Lane, under the English Bridge, under the station bridge and by the Weir.
All that is being proposed are a couple of small extensions by the weir and from the station bridge to St Mary’s Water Lane. It seems a sensible and proportionate response to a proven risk. Yet the majority of commenters here are foaming at the mouth.
People are saying that we need to tackle alcohol instead. Personally I’d be happy to see every pub closed down in this town. I’m not expecting everyone to agree with this, however!
Report abuse
I would like to see a ‘safe haven’ setup in Shrewsbury, (i.e. a place that was staffed by volunteers), that young people who had become intoxicated by drink or drugs (intentionally or not) could be taken to and assessed, and then either be collected by parents or carers, or sent to hospital for treatment. I believe the problem is that we have young immature drunk kids, attempting to look after their peers. Bouncers that don’t care. And parents/carers who are ignorant of what happens in town. I for one would rather get a phonecall to collect my child than let them try and get home inebriated.
Report abuse
You can’t fence rivers – or Motorways or roads – the deaths are very sad and only because individuals are intoxicated or unsupervised, Surely the local pubs have to take some responsibility here or even the individuals themselves – alcahol awareness, If you walk on ice it may crack around you, if you walk home intoxicated you could fall into a river or into an oncoming car or fall off a bridge, but is the answer really putting up fences? How about blocking access to the rivers near town centres? making local shops etc lock up certain gates at night? Our rivers should not be barrocaded with fences, what about floods? then what? we may as well build ten foot walls becasue they look better than fences stuck with wrotten food and rubbish and whatever else is in them.
Report abuse
Leave the river alone, no need for railings.
How about getting the council to spend some money on an official “Top Yourself” pool or maybe a bus that drives around town looking for drunks and asking them if they fancy a swim.
Report abuse
right! you all seem to be getting hysterical over something that needs to be addressed.
Elf n Safety gone mad is all i’m hearing here.
the fact is that many people have died due to falling into the river at night and somthing needs to be done. all that is needed and i think this is what they are looking at is a railing that stops people accidently walking too close to the edge of the bank. it need not be a barrier and if anyone wanted to get closer then this is easily done. but imagine the situation now, youve had a few and a nice walk by the river is what you want so off you stagger. its dark your sense of balance is off and vision maybe a bit blurry the next thing you know is the ground under foot is a bit springy for tarmac but you carry on then the floor falls away from you and your in the river.
now imagine the same situation, youre staggering along the the ground under foot seems a bit springy for tarmac and then BANG you walk into the railing thats been put up for your safety. oo you say and then walk away from the river as you didnt realise how close you were.
consider also how many deaths Ironbridge and Bridgnorth have had from people falling into the river… NONE and Ironbridge is just a whole row of pubs facing the river.
now does this not make sense?
Report abuse
Can anyone post a sensible, rational objection to railings? I’m talking about attractive, decorative cast iron ones, of course, not those ugly pre-cast concrete and tubular steel things.
Anyone?
Report abuse
Jake,
What chances of a sensible, rational acceptance of a corresponding rise in Council Tax to pay for it?
From reading previous letters on here, within days this would surely become another case of those so called “lazy incompetents” at Shirehall wasting “our” money?
Then there would be criticism of those so-called “idiotic planners” choosing the wrong type of railings!
Its clear from the above that the majority, including myself, feel that the responsibility for river safety lies first with the individual. We were all taught the dangers of rivers at a pretty young age, but accidents happen in all aspects of life and its tragic for those affected.
I guess the obvious answer would be for the Town Council to establish a community fund, where those who want railings can contribute to the cost.
Or of course, simply drain and fill in the river! ;-)
Report abuse
Of course tragic accidents happen, but surely the fact that they seem to happen on a comparatively unparalleled scale in Shrewsbury suggests that current means and/or levels of protection are below “normal” standards.
Report abuse
well i think its a good idea even if it sav e s one persons life …………….. they should have ctv camers down there two even if that person has one or two drinks does it mater we must make things safe
Report abuse
What!!!
And who do you propose is to pay for it all, i dont want my hard earned cash being spend preventing silly idiots falling into the river whilst drunk
Report abuse
Right, after reading through this comment thread it is clear to see that yes, people do have their own views and yes you are welcome to them, but there are a lot of people that have commented on here that do not have one ounce of compassion in their lives.
I was best mates with Mark Hodnett for over 10 years, I was the one that started the facebook campaign, I was the one that held the searches looking for him and quite frankly I am absolutely disgusted with some of the comments on here.
Yes we cannot fence of the whole river off, yes we will never completely stop people falling in and yes we could look at any one object in life and see the dangers in it but seriously…. Complaining about the rivers beauty over the cost of lives, seriously? I ask each one of you, you lose a loved one or a close friend to the river!!! Does it still look so damn attractive? Barriers in key positions aren’t going to ruin the view, they could in fact even improve some of the views if tasteful attractive barriers are put up. Secondly its not just about the barriers, CCTV, Ladders to climb out the river, river dredging to clear objects that you could get caught up on on the bottom….. There is so much more that can be done on top of the barriers. Villages have speed limits of 30mph…. why? To limit the risk of someone getting run over, does this spoil the beauty of that village, NO!!!! Its a safety measure simply. So why not apply this rule to the river.
Also I knew Mark well, which single person reading this knows how much he had to drink that night. Well I know the people he was out with that night and by no means was Mark drunk by any standard, in fact it was a rather sober night so I would personally appreciate anyone who doesn’t know the facts to keep your comments to yourself until you do. The question we should be asking more is where was he off that night…. Well….. We’d know if there was CCTV to show us which way he walked and how he ended up where he was……
Anyone who knew Mark knows that he could handle his drink, he had no reason to jump in, this is a tragic event and something that should definitely increase peoples awareness of the river and its dangers, we’ll never answer the reason why this happened but I know one thing, that we can definitely put certain reasonable measures in place to avoid what we think may have happened…..
RIP Mark Hodnett
RIP Josh Wreford
Report abuse
I come back to this posting today, having been out in Shrewsbury (or should I say Shrowsbury ????) town centre yesterday evening.
I thought of this news article when I was down by the Welsh Bridge and saw the road alongside the river by the old Morris factory (sorry don’t know the street name) which has some quite attractive blue railing along, keepiong pedestrians away from the river, which could have persuaded me that maybe they aren’t sucvh a bad idea if it wasn’t for the three clearly drunken idiots trying to tightrope walk along them egged on by the rest of their group, some of whom were trying to push their mates over the wrong side.
I think this clearly illustrates the reality here. For the ‘normal’ person, railings may have a purpose, for drunken idiots far from being a preventative measure, they can equally be a further excuse to put themselves in more danger.
The answer, less beer !!
Report abuse
more taxpayer money up in smoke
Report abuse
Its sad that we have the most dangerous strech of river in the UK where several people have lost their lives and my condolences go out to those familys.
I believe that better lighting and more life rings would be a good addition to the path along the river together with tasteful barriers.
I agree strongly with the comments that the river needs to be cleaned out as if you do fall in you could get caught on somthing. When I was a kid I used to swim in the Severn but now there is so much rubbish in it you have more chance of getting snagged up than having a swim.
You will never stop people going for a swim in the Severn if they want to, the only thing is to try and make it safer.
Report abuse
I would just like to comment on this thread because i feel disgusted and let down by people who have no compassion and judge the tragic situations without full knowledge into each tractic event which has taken a life by river, Surely you are all compleatly missing the point….drunk,old,young, who cares???? a life is a life and something needs doing before it happens again!
I have never myself known someone personally to loose a life to the river but living here all my life makes me realize how dangerous certain parts of the river are, day or night!
Surely some nice railings would not only save lifes but encourge familys to spend more time by the river, myself being quite scared to take my children down there.
As for lets blame the pubs/ clubs?? people are allowed to drink at 18 which makes them old enough for there own actions and although licences are by law to refuse service to drunk people what stops there friends buying drinks for them ect ect! and as ben states some of these accidents have no alchol related circumstances.
Excuse me if i sound nieve to some people but at least i have a heart and realize something needs doing before its one of my own.
Thoughts and prayers go out to all family and friends of these poor people!
Report abuse