Barbed Wire Managers

Accidents in which barbed wire is a factor are of interest to Blacka Moor's users. Many of the comments made about the tragic sledging accident in Rother Valley Country Park have suggested that this should not become a "health and safety witch-hunt" and that you cannot wrap youngsters in cotton wool. Legislating to remove all risk from our lives is itself unhealthy we are told. I would concur. In fact I would go further. I wish no serious injuries on any children but there should be more moderately risky activities easily available to children. Do any children climb trees these days as my generation did? I think they should. Engaging with the natural world is good for our children. (It's another story that there are far too many traffic accidents involving children)

BUT there's another side to this. Somebody decided that it was OK to put barbed wire fences in a country park just as they decided to put them on Blacka Moor. When we complained about the intrusiveness and hazard of barbed wire, its visual pollution and its impact on wildlife and dogs being walked, the SWT and council managers dismissed our comments. There has been to my knowledge at least one insurance claim related to Blacka's barbed wire - and I've seen a thoroughly misleading statement made by the SWT manager to the insurance company about this.

The Rother Valley barbed wire is I believe there to keep Highland Cattle in a compound. One of the council staff who worked at Rother Valley and was responsible for this was suddenly imported by SWT in 2006 to chair its Blacka Moor RAG meetings. He was anxious to tell his story about there being no problems there so why should there be on Blacka. Hmmm.

The fact is that barbed wire and recreation do not mix, and as Friends of Blacka Moor have always maintained there are alternatives.


Postscript:

The updated news item suggests that the barbed wire at Rother Valley was a strand above fairly normal stock fencing. Even more reason why the far more barbarous 4 strands at Blacka Moor should never have been installed. The bottom strand is only a few inches from the ground and threatens dogs and wildlife; it cannot be seen in snow nor at other times due to the vegetation cover around it. The lesson here is for managers but even more for the public. You cannot trust to the judgement of these people.


Postscript 2

Another report suggests that the speed of the improvised sledge was the major factor in the awful accident. Even so statements from witnesses suggest that it was the impact with the wire fence that was crucial. Barbed wire in an area set aside for public recreation must be questionable. H&S people will doubtless be pouring over the risk assessment forms.