Council builds over iconic stepping stones because of health and safety fears

Published 05th Aug 2010

An iconic set of stepping stones that appeared in Hollywood movie Robin Hood have been paved over by the council amid health and safety fears.

For centuries ramblers have crossed the River Dove in the Derbyshire Dales using the stepping stones, which have featured on postcards and calendars as an enduring image of an area visited by over a million people each year.

But the famous spot has now become an ugly eyesore after the uniformly flat limestone blocks were placed on top of the stones to stop people slipping.

The move has enraged local people and a Facebook group has been set up to have the stones restored to their former glory.

Mark Taylor, one of the group's founders, said: 'The special quality of the stepping stones is the stones themselves.

'Generations of walkers had polished and shaped them, making them a testament to the enduring popularity of Dovedale.

'The occasional flooding of some of the stones only added to the beauty and adventure of the attraction and their uneven nature made them appear a natural part of the landscape. They were the perfect picture postcard.

'Now every stone, bar one, has been topped by a mortar and limestone slab sandwich and it's been done with spirit level precision.

'The stones in their original form are lost forever and everything that made them unique and wonderful has been totally obliterated.'

Over the years the stones have become weathered and worn to become part of the natural landscape made famous in Izaak Walton's book The Compleat Angler.

Today walkers in the area were equally critical of the move.

Phil Sargeant, 53, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw them.They just look completely wrong now.

'The river is only a few inches deep so even if you slipped off the old stones it was hardly a disaster - in fact it was part of the fun.

'There was something about using them knowing that they had been used for so long by so many people.

"There's a footbridge nearby anyway so you don't have to use them if the river is in flood.

'Now some council jobsworth has decided to change everything for the usual health and safety nonsense.'

Local resident Meryle Bott added: 'What a mess. Where has the fun gone of slipping off the old stones and getting your feet wet without any harm to yourself?'

A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: 'The stepping stones at Dovedale are a public right of way and get a high volume of visitors every day.

'Over the years the high usage has worn the stones and together with the changing river bed level this meant there was a large discrepancy in the crossing's level from bank to bank.

'Some stones were above the water level and others would be flooded, particularly in winter.

'The National Trust asked us to look at the stepping stones. We have levelled the stones and brought them up to a consistent height so they are now all at the same level as the highest existing stone.

'We are sorry to hear some people do not like them. We have had positive comments from the public and the National Trust.'

Michael Innerdale, general manager for the Peak District National Trust, said: 'We feel the work carried out by the county council has improved the condition of the stepping stones, making them more accessible for our visitors.

'Derbyshire limestone has been used to repair the stones and in time the stones will weather in appearance.'

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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