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Dec 2020
Pregnant woman rescued from Swinsty Reservoir diversion
A pregnant woman had to be rescued by a passing family after she struggled to walk the Swinsty Reservoir diversion on Saturday.
Helen Riley, who is in the early stages of pregnancy, thought she was going for a quick stroll on her usual route around the reservoir.
She set out in the afternoon with some firm walking boots and soon found the diversion but did not realise how muddy it has become. She said:
Yorkshire Water introduced the diversion last month. It is due to be in place for 18 months while £6 million safety works take place.
Read more:
- Swinsty Reservoir footpath to close for 18 months
- Swinsty Reservoir footpath diversion ‘too muddy to walk’
The company warned the route was uneven and “sometimes wet” and therefore unsuitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
However, many readers have expressed concerns about its suitability and Helen told the Stray Ferret the warnings do not fully reflect the reality:
Yorkshire Water is diverting excess water from the reservoir to Lindley Wood reservoir to protect the embankment from flood erosion.
A spokesperson for the company told the Stray Ferret:
Yorkshire Water also encouraged anyone worried about the diversion route to visit other nearby reservoirs, such as Fewston and Thruscross.
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