High river levels force closure of ramp access at Appleby Horse Fair

The Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) for Appleby Horse Fair has this morning, Thursday 4 June, taken the decision to close the ramp access to the River Eden on The Sands and at Jubilee Ford in the town, on public safety grounds.

River levels in Appleby are monitored constantly throughout the Fair and following heavy rain on Wednesday, the river level has risen to 1.42m, well above the 0.5m depth that triggers a safety review.

The primary factors in reaching the decision to close the ramp access were the depth of the water, how quickly the river is running and the poor visibility of the water beneath the surface, with the potential for unseen debris.

The MASCG strongly advises people not to enter the River Eden at Appleby for the safety of themselves and their animals.

Chair of the MASCG, Claire Notman, Senior Manager Communities at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "The top priority for all the agencies involved in the MASCG is the safety and welfare of the people and animals attending the Fair.

"Clearly, any time any person or animal enters the River Eden there is an inherent risk. However, now that river levels have significantly risen above the 0.5m safety level, the relevant agencies in the MASCG have taken the difficult, but necessary, decision to close access to the river in order to keep people and animals safe.

"We strongly urge everyone attending the Fair to observe the restrictions that have been put in place to prevent access to the River Eden. These restrictions also apply to other access points within the Appleby area, including Jubilee Ford." 

River levels remain under regular review and if they do fall back to a safer level, the MASCG may take the decision to reopen the access ramp and Jubilee Ford. However, the current forecast is that this is highly unlikely to occur today (Thursday 5 June).

There is also the potential for the river levels to remain above the 0.5m safety level into Friday 5 June. However, The MASCG will continue to monitor the river level, review the closure status and communicate any changes to the situation, as appropriate.

The RSPCA is urging people to observe the advice and to not to take horses into the river as it is currently unsafe for people and animals.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Lyndsey Taylor said: "Conditions are so dangerous that we took the decision not to send in our specially trained water rescue officers, who remove hazards from the river near the ramp each morning of the Fair.

“If the water is too risky for them, with their expert training, I hope it goes without saying it is not safe for the public. 

“This decision has been taken by the MASCG for everyone’s safety and it’s really important that people listen.”