Historic stepping stones across the Hogsmill River in Ewell, Surrey, are set to be removed after safety concerns were raised about the risk of people slipping from them.
The stones, installed in 1983, have been part of the local landscape for more than 40 years and are widely regarded as a familiar landmark in the area.
After the crossing remained submerged for several months, the Environment Agency said it wanted the stones taken out on health and safety grounds.
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Environment Committee met last Tuesday to consider whether the council should take on responsibility for the stepping stones and their upkeep.
Councillors instead opted to remove the crossing and pursue a new footbridge, estimated to cost £100,000, despite advice that repairs or improvements such as fitting a handrail could come in at under £1,000.
Committee chairwoman Cllr Liz Frost said: “The Environment Agency has advised that, for safety reasons, it wishes to remove the stepping stones from the Hogsmill River unless another organisation agrees to assume responsibility for their ongoing safety and maintenance.”
Cllr Frost explained that the council had been asked to consider four possible courses of action set out in a report by Countryside Manager Stuart Cocker.
The options included keeping and maintaining the stones, constructing a bridge beside them, or removing the stones without putting any replacement crossing in place.
The council wants to tear up these historic stepping stones and build at £100,000 bridge, rather than maintain them for just £1,000
Instead, the council agreed to remove the stepping stones and build a footbridge in their place.
Mr Cocker told councillors that one of the concrete steps has been damaged, likely due to dogs using it, but he stressed the repair costs would be under £1,000.
He also said this is the first time in over 40 years that the crossing has needed any major maintenance, which suggests it’s generally held up well over time.
He added: ‘You could argue for having a handrail on the steps, possibly a non-slip surface, but it’s all achievable within current budgets.’
Mr Cocker even suggested that the council could stop the stones from being submerged by lowering the water level by moving river gravel downstream.
The South East Rivers Trust already has permission and funding for the job, which would work out much cheaper than tearing up the massive stones and building the new bridge.
However, he warned that even if the water level issue could be solved, the Environment Agency still did not consider the stones safe.
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The debate then turned more personal as councillors spoke about their memories of the crossing and what it means locally.
Cllr Rob Geleit said: ‘I’m one of those people who used to play there as a child, and I think there’s always an element of risk in places where children play, especially when there’s water, but I would hate to see the stepping stones gone.
‘So I’d like to say: please don’t take the toys away.’
Cllr Julie Morris also told councillors: ‘I haven’t really heard anybody speak in favour of getting rid of the stepping stones entirely.
‘I did a bit of research to try and find out where else there are similar stones and actually they’re quite rare. It is quite a rare thing and I think part of our history.
‘I think there are good solutions suggested that deal with better access, but also deal with the fun of being able to cross that part of the river.’
But other councillors warned that sentiment could not outweigh the legal risks.
Cllr Rachel King, who emphasised that she wasn’t pro-remove-the-stones, said: ‘You could put a sign up that says “cross at your own risk” or “these are dangerous and slippery when wet”, but the reality is you’re still responsible if somebody hurts themselves.
‘You cannot sign your way out of liability.
‘The suggestion from the report is that we would be accepting liability at this stage and they are not safe currently and knowing that they’re not safe, we would be opening ourselves up to claims.
‘We are responsible for keeping people safe and letting people do things that we know are not safe is irresponsible.’
Tied up in bureaucratic knots, the committee opted to take up the stepping stones and replace them with the footbridge and save themselves from potential legal problems down the line.
Five out of eight councillors backed the decision.
It is estimated a new footbridge will cost over £100,000, including design and planning fees.
Cllr Frost said: ‘When we went to look at them, actually getting down those steps and across the stepping stones is not for a lot of people.
‘You’ve got to be reasonably able-bodied. You can’t do that with prams, pushchairs, bikes and all sorts of things.
‘In fact, adding a bridge would enable a lot more people to get to that area.’
