Water Safety Partnership set up in West Berkshire following death of toddler Dylan Milsom in March
A WATER Safety Partnership has been established to improve safety around the district’s canals and rivers.
The initiative was instigated following the death of three-year-old Dylan Milsom in Newbury on March 13.
The toddler and his mother fell into the water by Ash Bridge, near the weir behind the former Newbury Weekly News offices.
After the tragic incident thousands of people signed an online petition calling for more safety measures to be put in place in the area.
Newbury MP Laura Farris also called for additional safety measures on the canal.
Today (Friday), West Berkshire Council confirmed that it has joined with Thames Valley Police, the Canal & River Trust, the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service and colleagues from the NHS to work on a Water Safety Partnership in the district.
The aim of the partnership is for the different agencies to work closely together to improve the safety of the waterway through the area for residents and visitors using the canals and rivers.
It will also look at addressing the broad issues of water safety and river usage, working to raise awareness of the risks of waterways among communities most at risk and engaging with the public, private and voluntary sectors with responsibility for waterways.
An initial meeting was held on April 20 and initial plans include working with parents, schools and pre-schools on water safety education, as well as raising awareness of the need for care when being near water and physical safety improvements such as throw lines and fencing.
A spokesperson for the partnership, said: “Safety is a priority and we are continually looking at ways to improve waterways across the district to make them as safe as possible.
“The number of incidents involving fatalities along waterways are always front and centre of our minds and we will take recent tragedies to inform our conversations and help guide our decision making and actions.
“By working together as a partnership we will use all the collective expertise and influences to do everything possible to prevent further tragic events happening.”
The partnership has been announced during ‘Be Water Aware Week’ (26 April – 2 May); a water safety awareness-raising campaign led by the National Fire Chiefs Council.
