Decision details
Riverside fencing
Decision Maker: Director of Communities & Neighbourhoods
Decision status: Awaiting Implementation
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
To agree a standardised fence design as part
of the improved safety measures for York's riverbanks as
recommended in the RoSPA report September 2014.
BACKGROUND
Following a series of drowning incidents in early 2014 the City
Council commissioned RoSPA to review the existing riverside safety
measures along the Rivers Ouse and Foss in the city centre in
response to the RoSPA report.
* The suitability of the existing post and chain fencing at
Wellington Row, Kings Staith and Blue Bridge area has been
reviewed.
* The design of new fencing for the area along the River Foss
between Foss Islands Road and Rowntree Wharf (rear of Walkers Yard)
has been explored.
FENCING
Inspection of the above areas by officers from Public Realm, Design
and Conservation and Health and Safety found the existing style of
fencing at Wellington Row, Kings Staith and Blue Bridge area is a
suitable design for now and in the future. The reasons for this are
that:
* The existing cast-iron design provides a strong indication of
potential danger to both children and adults.
* Has only a small visual impact on the setting of the river and
city.
* No known fatalities or near misses have been attributed to the
design or performance of the existing fencing.
The current equivalent of the post is a Broxap Salford Quays. See
http://www.broxap.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=salford
Inspection at existing locations found that post heights varied
from 1105-1120mm above ground and intervening chains form very
loose swags.
Accordingly, current and future posts will be set a minimum height
of 1100mm with all intervening chains being tight. The bottom chain
being some 450mm above ground level.
There will be instances where the post and chain aesthetic is not
appropriate or offers sufficient protection. These are when
railings are an integral part of the adjacent architecture, often
when the architecture is a contemporary design. An example of this
is the City Screen railings and high level walkway over the Ouse.
In such instance the Salford Quays design will not apply.
Options Considered:
A. Not to make any changes to the existing
fencing.
B. To introduce a brand new style of fencing or barrier.
Options Rejected:
A. Not to make any changes to the existing
fencing.
B. To introduce a brand new style of fencing or barrier.
Publication date: 30/12/2014
Date of decision: 01/12/2014