Heading for the Sea.

Back in March RWF member Sue Patchett spotted a large plastic container, probably a water bowser, in the river above Low Bridge and suggested that we should try to remove it. Somehow we never got round to it. A couple of weeks ago it was spotted it in the river below Low Mill Bridge and we thought we should do something. Unfortunately access to the river is very difficult there and we were planning on getting a better look at it then the rains came last week and the container is now in the River Aire at Riddlesden. So we we rather regret that we missed our opportunity to remove it and it will make it’s way eventually to the sea and add the millions of tons of plastic debris that will wash around in our oceans for thousands of years.
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Beginning of March - above Low Bridge......

....Early May - below Low Mill Bridge......

.....Mid may down by East Riddlesden Hall.

So how did it get into the river in the first place? We hope it was not dumped intentionally, more likely it accidentally fell or was blown into the river from an adjacent businesses yard. We have noticed this happening at various places along the river and have worked with some responsible businesses to prevent debris entering the river. For instance we found large sheets of plastic coated cardboard in the river upstream from the bypass bridge, they had blown in from an adjacent yard, Harrisons Bathrooms. We cleared the cardboard and spoke to the yard manager who agreed to increase the weighing down of  the sheets. Fortunately Harrisons is a good, well organised and responsible yard so the sheets were probably just a one off. 
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​Other yards are not so responsible, we notice debris down the bank from another yard above Low Bridge, it is possible the large container also can form there. There is also debris down the bank of North Beck at Postman’s Walk, RWF and BCMBC will be working with the yard owners to clear this  next month.

Overspill debris from yard above Low Bridge, most of this will end up in the river.

Debris slipping down bank into North Beck at Postman's Walk.

​We would ask businesses along the Worth to take pride in the beautiful natural resource on their doorstep and take precautions to ensure debris cannot get into the river. If by accident stuff does get into the water, please take steps to remove it, don’t just let it go. If anyone sees debris in the river please report it to us and we will endeavour to to have it removed.
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​Finally, on a lighter note this bowser floating down to the sea is a bit like a typically Keighley version of David Nash’s Boulder Project.