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 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bridge-swingers given new warning | Bridge-swingers given new warning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The craze of bridge swinging has been banned from country parks in West Lothian amid fears of a fatality. | The craze of bridge swinging has been banned from country parks in West Lothian amid fears of a fatality. |
| It follows the publication of footage on YouTube showing people leaping from an old railway bridge near East Calder. | It follows the publication of footage on YouTube showing people leaping from an old railway bridge near East Calder. |
| New notices have been erected and countryside rangers will ensure that park regulations are enforced. | New notices have been erected and countryside rangers will ensure that park regulations are enforced. |
| Extreme sport organisations offer professional bridge-swinging but there are concerns that inexperienced jumpers will copy them, leading to a death. | Extreme sport organisations offer professional bridge-swinging but there are concerns that inexperienced jumpers will copy them, leading to a death. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| This activity has never been permitted in our country parks and no permission has ever been sought West Lothian Council | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Anyone who contravenes these rules or seeks to contravene them can be expelled from the land or premises by an authorised council officer. | "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. | "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." |
| Access work | |
| Gavin Hall is one of those who has jumped from the bridge wearing specialist safety equipment, including a harness, clips, straps and ropes. | |
| He said: "This isn't a bit of washing line we are using, it isn't an elastic band that we are trusting our lives on and hoping it is going to work. | |
| "This is equipment that is used at work for all different means of abseiling, climbing and access work. | |
| "The ropes we are using could take another 10 people. One person jumping is not putting any stress on the rope itself." | |
| Public safety | |
| Many of those taking part work in the rope access industry and are familiar with the equipment and the ways of minimising the risks. | |
| One said there was an "addictive" adrenaline rush from using what was effectively a Tarzan swing for grown-ups. | |
| Another 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. |