More canalside railings

HERTFORDSHIRE Highways is installing a long length of railings by the towpath of the Grand Union Canal at Croxley Green to prevent people falling into the waterway.

But local residents are complaining that £20,000 in being wasted on the safety railings, which they believe are unnecessary and unattractive, Alan Tilbury tells us.

'Adopted' the towpath

The authority has 'adopted' the towpath that runs by the Byewaters Estate, alongside the Grand Union Canal, so it can be maintained by the council.

It believes the canal is not safe, so ornate black railings have been installed, as a safety measure to prevent people falling into the waterway.

No one fallen in

But local residents claim that no one has fallen in the canal in the 12 years since the estate has existed, and the railing are being erected without any consultation with the residents, many of whom are up in arms against them, believing they are totally unnecessary.

Councillor Andrew Dawson related:

"We have a duty to ensure the highways are safe and this area has been identified as a safety risk—there is a considerable drop between the footway [towpath] and river, [canal] which is deep flowing,[!] so it is proposed to install ornate railings which are sympathetic to the surrounding area."

Residents on the estate have set up an online petition online against the railings.