Health and security ‘gone mad’ as fence erected round tiny ‘puddle’ close to playground
A wooden fence was erected around a shallow body of water in Rowntree Park, York, after safety concerns were raised near a children’s play area, but many locals are left baffled at the council’s decision
Residents have been left fuming at the council’s decision to fence the “puddle” off(Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
Locals have been left bewildered after wooden fencing was installed around a five-inch deep ‘puddle’ at their neighbourhood park. The tiny pool of water at Rowntree Park in York was surrounded by the square 5x5m barrier on Tuesday, February 10, following concerns from a resident that it posed a drowning risk to youngsters.
Yet numerous locals claim the move has left them utterly perplexed, arguing that health and safety measures have ‘spiralled out of control’. The frustration is heightened by the fact that the same park boasts an unprotected pond and sits just metres from the River Ouse.
One resident remarked: “Oh give over — there’s a big pond in the park, there’s no fence around that and the path is normally covered in slippy goose poo. When you leave the park there’s a big flippin’ river with no signs or fences.
“Cope, just get on with enjoying the park.” Meanwhile, another commented: “Just to point out there’s a huge duck pond running the whole length of the park with no barriers and you don’t get children drowning in it and its deeper.
“So why the heck suggest to over health and safety bogs/ponds…. World’s going mad. Too many busy bodies destroying everything.”
The two-metre wide ‘puddle’ sits in the park’s corner, close to a children’s playground. Its origins remain mysterious, with the council announcing earlier this week that the matter is being ‘investigated’.
But a pond behind it was excavated as part of the charity York Carers’ ongoing Big Community Challenge wetland programme and was initially cordoned off. The objective of the scheme is to ‘maintain and restore river and wetland areas in York’ and ‘preserve and improve biodiversity’.
This section was initially cordoned off, according to officials. On Monday (Feb 10) Dave Atkinson, director of environmental and regulatory services at City of York Council said: “The shallow pond was dug last year as part of long-standing programme to create a wetland area in this corner of the park.
“Unfortunately, the temporary barriers which were installed previously have been pulled up, but new ones are due to be put in by the end of the month.” One resident, Paul Stevenson, 39, said it was sensible that the undisclosed ‘puddle’ has been fenced off as according to him, when it rains the ‘puddle’ can grow to as deep as 36 inches.
The gardener said: “To naked eye it looks like an innocent puddle. You wouldn’t let your child run up to the pond or river and jump in it, would you?”.
“It is a small pond disguised as a puddle, children and parents could think is safe to have a splash in. Parents know what the dangers of large bodies of water are, but this literally looks like a puddle.”
York Council has confirmed it erected the fence around the ‘puddle’ in Rowntree Park — maintaining it is in fact part of a designated wetland area. The council stated that the barrier was erected to safeguard visitors from the shallow stretch of water close to the children’s playground.
Dave Atkinson, Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services, said: “The fence has been provided by one of our community partners. It helps keep people safe and define the wetland area.
“We think that fencing off a small pond near a children’s play area is a responsible thing to do. And it’s something many local residents requested be done.”
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