I think this is wrong;

click here

I dont want to knock, and im not being negative but...

I know that "someone will probably die" and that I shouldnt be "reckless about risking human life" so let me have a go at explaining why I think its wrong and hopefully explain myself. Life is dangerous. Rivers are dangerous. The Conwy has a waterfall on it. Its hard to read from above. So what? It has always been like that and always will.

Sticking up a marker on a fall is the thin end of a wedge we should not allow in this country. Where will they be put up next? Orchy? Llugwy? Etive? Duddon? Swale? There are sensible cases for it on health and safety grounds for all of these. Maybe we should close the rivers when they get too high, or only allow paddling after some safety consultant has been down and checked for trees. Their risk assessment report should be written in triplicate please, and displayed in the local post office and on ukrgb.

Im stretching to the absurd obviously, and there are still the charges above to answer. I dont think that markers reduce the chances of someone dying on a river. In fact I'm unfortunately pretty certain that there will be another death on a river in the UK before too long. Bound to be.

If there are markers in one spot, then people will rely on them. It will get into the psyche that there is a risk out there that it someone else's job to assess and warn about. Responsibility is shifted. It shouldnt be. Your safety on a river is your responsibilty.

As soon as we shift from that basic principle, and people rely others interpreattion of risk then we increase the risk of fatalities, not decrease them. We enjoy the sport because of the risk, because of what it teaches about risk, because we put ourselves up there, on the river, where decisions need to be made and personalities are forged. I dont mean to knock the spirit in which this was done, but I think its an error. I actually admire the spirit of 'just do it' very much. However I feel it would have been better just to put out info, and particularly the pictures, so people can learn and be informed about the risks that are out there. Too be pragmatic I think the pictures and instructions are great.  Perhaps there should be systematic approach to collating such information (Wheres the water, and many of the forums try to do this - an idea which rainchasers just borrowed). However, collating information is one thing, scribbling on natural river features with signs is just not on.

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