New River: Pets and wild animals drowning incidents - Wightman Road end

Just to let you know I have asked Thames Water to look into how domestic and wild animals get trapped in the TW tunnel works near the Wightman Road entrance. About two months ago I came across several people with children witnessing a fox desperately trying to squeeze through the front grill by the mechanical grabber unit. Eventually although it tortuously squeezed through this fine grill it had no energy to jump out of the river and eventually drowned. Healthy animals would be hard put to getting out as it's quite deep anyway.

Neighbours of mine recount that a whippet was floating there in the summer and a cat's mangled body also... it's not just wildlife which you may not care about.

The TW enclosure has efficient green metal railings on our pedestrian side to prevent access to the tunnel and cleaning system they are servicing at present. However on the other side.. the TW facility is fenced by local established garden fencing to do with the W Road properties. So... animals will continue to explore and get into this enclosure to prey on other wildlife.

To prevent this TW have agreed with the New River management to cover the TW area over the river with my cheap solution of chicken wire or some such... to cover the entire facility from the tunnel entrance to the front (2nd) grill area to prevent animals falling in. Barhale will do this on completion of the tunnel works.

If you enter Finsbury Park via the New River entrance on Endymion Road you will see a simple wooden riser some human being has put there to help the wildfowl exit up to the river bank! See below. Whoever thought of this is a genius! It's so simple!  Still...along the NR the banks can be high for smaller dogs etc...unless an owner is prepared to jump in to rescue.

Thanks to Thames Water for regularly following up with me and letting me know they are solving this rather sad blight on our lovely local resource for walking. Hopefully a small victory to a listening utility!