Hand rails for lock tail bridges

AFTER the death of the boy who attempted to cycle across the lock tail bridge at Stourport over the Staffs & Worcs Canal, British Waterways is to take action with lock tail bridges.

We understand that 26 such lock tail bridges, though causing no problems for 200 years, are now going to be 'brought up to safety standards'.  The photograph shows the bridge the boy fell off.

Hand rail and non slip surface

It seems where possible the bridges will now be equipped with at least one hand rail and a non-slip surface, many of these bridges being on the Staffs & Worcs Canal where they are a feature to ease the operation of the lock gates.  The one in the photograph being a possible contender.

A spokesman for British Waterways tells us:

"The permanent solution at each location will be sensitive to the heritage and appropriate for the location. We are consulting with a specialist heritage designer and the local authorities."

Robert Fidoe, aged 12, who could not swim, died after falling off his bike after attempting to cycle over the narrow fence-less bridge, even though there was a notice prohibiting this.