Walkers baffled after council puts up 10ft-long fence to stop people reaching deep river — on a quarter-mile path

WALKERS are baffled after a council put up a 10ft-long fence to stop people reaching a deep river — on a quarter-mile path.

The 5ft-high barrier has a notice saying “Do Not Climb the Fence” despite people being able to just stroll around it.

Dog walker Don Taylor, 69, said: “It must be the most ridiculous safety fence in the country.”

The fence – with three posts and as many rails — has been put up at a nature reserve near the River Calder at Wakefield, West Yorks.

Walkers were mystified because the track stretches for more than 400 yards, with dozens of other easy spots to reach the river bank.

The sign also keeps getting pinched.

Don added: “To keep sending workers out to replace ‘Do not climb’ signs is just as bizarre. Who needs to bother climbing it?

“Apart from being able to walk round it, a child or an agile adult could simply just scramble through.”

Wakefield council health and safety boss Kevin Fisher said: “This fence was put up in 2019 and at the time you could not easily walk around it due to thick vegetation.

“A new path has been cut through by pedestrians and we are now looking at how we can restrict access further either by extending the fencing or planting shrubs or bushes.”

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