batrabill

Now you're just ganging up. Not a good look.

Not be taken seriously for making a joke????? Boy, a bit po-faced chaps.. The point, if it is too complicated to get from that, is that lots of things happen on the river that if they were subjected to this sort of trial by forum would fail on numerous counts.Windsurfing at Hickling - Weills disease! Blue Green Algae. Kids falling in from their Toppers at Sailing clubs - Weills disease, Blue Green algae, hire boats steaming past! The 3 rivers race is a good example. Lots of people 'inconvenienced' in the way that several here have complained about. Lots of real risks. But would that get a smoother ride because it's a boating event? Secondly, and quite seriously Grendel I think your comment "most of the people who dont seem to worry about everyone elses safety concerns appear to me to be arguing for the sake of it" is completely wrong on two counts. I'm guessing I am one of those "people", and so I take offence at the notion that I don't seem to worry about other people's safety concerns. We have had lists of safety concerns - Weills, Blue Green Algae, emergency access, etc etc etc I have read every single one of them, but I do not write the risk assessment nor do I assess the risks, so my view is irrelevant, but so is yours. It was me who contacted Mel so she could answer several incorrect claims here based on zero information that none of the risks had been considered. I thought it would be better to get it from the horses mouth. She has explained some of the measures taken, and ultimately the question of safety will rest with people who's job it is to make safety judgements on things like this - NOT the views of this forum. The "arguing for the sake of it" has actually been used by both 'sides' now and I think it is also both annoying and also offensive. I don't argue for the sake of it, I argue because this looks like a great event and something I would like to see as part of the Broads ecology, but the tone of a number of people here is so negative that I feel it is right to stand up for the idea. It is the nature of forums that the loudest voices usually work together and tend to drown out alternative views. It's usual that the alternative views are called "arguing for the sake of it", and I can point you at several of those in past threads, whereas the view put forward by the loudest voices (not the majority mind, just the loudest voices) is usually referred to as "just stating the facts". Funny that.

Worse than that marshman, I hear that a few lunatics are planning a 24 hour, yes 24 hour! sailing race where things called Thames A-raters will plough through 50 miles of river at 12 miles an hour scattering innocent boaters, making maidens faint and cows calve. Madness! It must be stopped. Also, "majority"? - possibly, but "nearly everyone"? No.

Hmmm. I regret asking Mel to comment now, and I have advised her to not engage any more.

Its still there.... not deleted.

Much as we all love discussing the NP can of worms shall we leave it out of this issue?

Seems to be an 8.30 first start. Slower swimmers first.

You are using this as a justification for being against everything. If you are against everything then your opinions have no value since there is no judgement involved, just blanket negativity. Lets see what the organiser has to say.

The organiser is planning to come on here and explain.. So I'll leave it to her.

If you can't swim you probably shouldn't sail a wet boat, paddle board or kayak. I understand why swimming is discouraged but I think its nonsense. I swim all the time.

Jeez. Wake up. It's a stream on negative stuff. Sounds like the Harry Enfield character "You didn't want to do THAT!"

I asked the organiser! It wasn’t hard - they have a Facebook page - better than just making it up don’t you think? Of course no one here has seen the risk assessment, this is is a discussion forum. The local Council, the harbour master and the BA ... that’s not enough? There is also much experience of other wild swimming events. Quite a lot of negativity here....

It seems highly unlikely that everyone involved - Beccles Council, Beccles Harbourmaster, BA and the organisers - have failed to consider the risks. These are surely the sort of organisations who are constantly being pilloried for ‘health and safety gone mad’. No guarantee, but as I have said above, all the issues raised here are covered in the risk assessment for the event.

I’m told there is a full risk assessment which has been signed off by BA covering all the points here.

I asked what the plans are, and they say he river isn't closed. Wild swimming is pretty common these days, and I think its fair to assume they think know what they are doing. Personally, I'd worry a bit. They may assume people driving a 45 ft hire-boat have some basic skills.....

Do you think they will mark a channel near the bank?

Sounds a great event - and shows what nonsense it is to say it’s not safe to swim. It’s funny how everyone seems to think they have a right to not be “inconvenienced” Does Horning sailing club “inconvenience” boasters when they’re racing? Of course they do, but so what? We all share the river and that means a bit of give and take.

Just the same old, same old JohnK. Rudeness presented as ‘facts’.

What I have written I have written.

It is always possible I am wrong, but my information is from someone who works for the BA, your’s is just invention based on your well-known predjudice against. John Packman.

My sources, confirm what you say Bobdog. We all know that some people will spin anything to make the BA look bad. Someone, I am told, had to apologise...... And I am assured, someone left entirely normally. But make 2 and 2 make 22 if it serves your own agenda.

I think Countryfile will be quite used to small 'fringe' pressure groups because everything they do is under public scrutiny. I think you flatter yourself considerably if you imagine they give a monkeys.

John, you bad man.

Change is the law of life. If if you don’t like it you’re probably getting on a bit.

Went round the NDR from Rackheath to the airport this morning in the dark. The markings are incredibly clear and easy to follow IMHO and if you cant see the roundabout you should see an optician - urgently.