This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7102701.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Park ban on bridge swinging craze Bridge-swingers given new warning
(about 8 hours later)
The craze of bridge swinging has been banned from country parks in West Lothian because the local authority fears someone could be killed. The craze of bridge swinging has been banned from country parks in West Lothian amid fears of a fatality.
It comes after footage was posted on the YouTube website showing enthusiasts leaping from a disused railway bridge near East Calder. It follows the publication of footage on YouTube showing people leaping from an old railway bridge near East Calder.
Professional bridge swinging is offered by extreme sport organisations and is widely available on internet sites. New notices have been erected and countryside rangers will ensure that park regulations are enforced.
However, the council fears others with no experience may copy their actions. Extreme sport organisations offer professional bridge-swinging but there are concerns that inexperienced jumpers will copy them, leading to a death.
West Lothian Council said such a move could have potentially fatal consequences. The YouTube footage showed participants throwing themselves off the Camps Viaduct in Almond Dell country park, then swinging to and fro through its main arch.
YouTube footage showed participants throwing themselves off the Camps Viaduct in Almond Dell country park, then swinging to and fro through its main arch. Although they were using professional harnesses and specialist dynamic ropes, West Lothian Council is concerned that people without safety knowledge and experience will copy their actions.
'No permission''No permission'
Although they were using professional harnesses and specialist dynamic ropes, councillors fear it could lead to copy-cat incidents. A West Lothian Council spokesman said: "It is a breach of our park management rules to climb any bridge, building or other structure or to participate in any game, sport or activity which may cause danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person or wildlife or which interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of the countryside area by any other person.
New notices have now been erected and countryside rangers will ensure that park regulations are enforced. "Anyone who contravenes these rules or seeks to contravene them can be expelled from the land or premises by an authorised council officer.
A council spokesman said: "It is a breach of our park management rules to climb any bridge, building or other structure or to participate in any game, sport or activity which may cause danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person or wildlife or which interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of the countryside area by any other person." "Any person refusing to leave when required to do so or anyone attempting to re-enter the land or premises after exclusion will be guilty of an offence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
He added: "Anyone who contravenes these rules or seeks to contravene them can be expelled from the land or premises by an authorised council officer. Any person refusing to leave when required to do so or anyone attempting to re-enter the land or premises after exclusion will be guilty of an offence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
"This activity has never been permitted in our country parks and no permission has ever been sought.""This activity has never been permitted in our country parks and no permission has ever been sought."
One of the bridge swingers said they understood the council's duty to protect public safety.One of the bridge swingers said they understood the council's duty to protect public safety.
But he added that he and his friends had already identified other bridges in the area.But he added that he and his friends had already identified other bridges in the area.