09/10/03 - Alert over railings danger

Vandals have been making railings alongside Walney Channel in Barrow dangerous by unbolting them. This has put anyone leaning on them at risk of falling into the deep water of the channel, or on to the mud below at low tide.

Nuts have twice been removed recently from the bottom of short stretches of the railings furthest away from the Dock Museum, causing at least £500 worth of damage each time. The nuts have now been replaced.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council, which is responsible for maintaining the railings, said:

“It would not be immediately apparent to anyone leaning on the railings at this point that they were not secured at ground level and it could be possible for someone doing so to fall into the channel.

“The nuts would not have been removed easily. This is deliberate vandalism and could have potentially extremely serious consequences.

“Cumbria Police have been informed and we would ask anyone with any information to pass it on to them.”

In the same area lifebelts have been stolen, replaced and stolen again three times recently.