Complaint after Yorkshire Water closes reservoir footpath in Sheffield

A walker has complained after Yorkshire Water closed the footpath around a popular reservoir.
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The footpath along the dam wall at Underbank reservoir in Stocksbridge was recently closed, but local resident Alan Brookfield says while he understands why the car parks are closed, there seems to be no logic to closing the footpath.

He said: “Prior to its closure, local people have been using the footpath during the coronavirus outbreak for their daily exercise.

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“The footpath has a one metre wide strip with a further three metre wide grass verge, and many locals use this for their allowed daily exercise.

Underbank reservoirUnderbank reservoir
Underbank reservoir

“This has been done with appropriate social distancing at all times, allowing those who use it to enjoy the fresh air and breathtaking views across the reservoir.

“By closing the footpath, this has forced all those users onto the much narrower footpaths through woodland at either side of the reservoir which still remain open.

“Obviously this puts many more people in a much narrower space putting at risk the required social distancing when taking exercise.

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“I cannot see how the closure of the footpath along the wall complies with the spirit or the letter of the Government guidelines in relation to social distancing. With no adequate explanation it is extremely frustrating for many local residents."

Yorkshire Water says the path has been closed to protect its staff, who still need access to the site.

A spokesman said: “We made the decision to close all our car parks at our reservoirs as we initially had a large number of visitors

“It was one of the main sites where we had problems early on with too many people on the crest for our colleagues to be able to safely cross.

“By closing both ends, it reinforced the closure of the parking spaces on the spur of the old A616 which runs up to the eastern access point and one residential property.”

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