THE grieving family of the eight years old boy who explored the vegetation by the side of a waterway then drowned, say they will cut back the vegetation themselves as British Waterways won't do it.
It is five weeks since Matthew Cartwright stumbled through the vegetation by the side of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation at Swinton and drowned, but nothing has been done to prevent any further deaths.
Can't use strimmers
Grandmother Wendy and other campaigners want British Waterways to allow them to use its strimmers so they can cut back the vegetation themselves, but have been told that health and safety laws prevent this, though there are no plans for the authority to cut back the dangerous waterside vegetation. It was in 2007 the undergrowth, that hides the waterway from the towpath was last cut back.
The local newspaper is helping with the campaign by publishing posters warning of the danger, as there are no notices displayed. But what is concerning the campaigners so much is that though five weeks have elapsed, nothing whatsoever has been done by British Waterways to help prevent a further tragedy, which is something they cannot understand.
Shame them
The campaigners complain the authorities are dragging their feet and now say they will take action themselves to shame them, and cut the vegetation themselves.
It was recently that narrowboatworld published that there will be more deaths of children exploring the undergrowth by the waterways, then stumbling into the water, not realising the danger. But alas, the much acclaimed veg pledge to cut back the proven dangerous vegetation has given way to spending on other things.