Access to the River Eden in Appleby has been suspended as water levels are too high.
The Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group for Appleby Horse Fair took the decision yesterday, Thursday June 4, to shut off ramp access to the river on The Sands and at Jubilee Ford in the town, on public safety grounds.
It said river levels in Appleby were monitored constantly during the fair and following heavy rain on Wednesday, the river level has risen to 1.42m, well above the 0.5m depth that triggered a safety review.
It added: “The primary factors in reaching the decision to close the ramp access were the depth of the water, how quickly the river is running and the poor visibility of the water beneath the surface, with the potential for unseen debris.
“The MASCG strongly advises people not to enter the River Eden at Appleby for the safety of themselves and their animals.”
MASCG chair Claire Notman, senior manager communities at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “The top priority for all the agencies involved in the MASCG is the safety and welfare of the people and animals attending the fair.
“Clearly, any time any person or animal enters the River Eden there is an inherent risk.
“However, now that river levels have significantly risen above the 0.5m safety level, the relevant agencies in the MASCG have taken the difficult, but necessary, decision to close access to the river in order to keep people and animals safe.
“We strongly urge everyone attending the Fair to observe the restrictions that have been put in place to prevent access to the River Eden. These restrictions also apply to other access points within the Appleby area, including Jubilee Ford.”
It added that river levels would remain under regular review and if they fell back to a safer level, the decision would be taken to reopen the access ramp.
It said it was unlikely to happen last night and there was potential for river levels to remain above 0.5m today, Friday June 5.
The RSPCA is urging people to observe the advice and to not to take horses into the river as it is currently unsafe for people and animals.
RSPCA chief inspector Lyndsey Taylor said: “Conditions are so dangerous that we took the decision not to send in our specially trained water rescue officers, who remove hazards from the river near the ramp each morning of the fair.
“If the water is too risky for them, with their expert training, I hope it goes without saying it is not safe for the public.
“This decision has been taken by the MASCG for everyone’s safety and it’s really important that people listen.”
