Urgent: walking dogs on the River Ancholme

James Martin - 26 August 2005

Hello,

This is extremely urgent!

A BriggLife visitor 'Rosemary Fox' wrote in asking about letting dogs swim in the River. (read email)

You were unsure of the River regarding dogs swimming in it.

Dogs are not allowed in any part of the River Ancholme according to the Environmental Agency and British Waterways. Reason being: the River is quite dangerous, and the River closest to Appleby is going downstream, and you will experience extremely strong underwater currents.

The water can flow very fast there. I took a powered craft on the River once to go from South Ferriby, all the way to Brigg and the engine has a power indication dial on it which shows how much power the engine is having to use. The power raised quite a lot in that area - due to underwater currents, trying to wash me back down towards South Ferriby (downstream).

Most of the River Ancholme is very deep except the Old River Ancholme in Brigg (Near Lidl). I have taken rowing craft on the water before and submerged video cameras (In underwater casing) down to the River bed on steel cables, and in some places it was that deep we couldn't reach the river bed.

Years ago, large boats used to come down the River Ancholme, and this is why it is deep. However, over the years, the River bed with the tons of water on top, pushes it down, and the River naturally is always getting deeper over the decades. Some parts of the River Ancholme near Brigg can be around 4 metres deep in the middle (2 metres is about the height of a door frame), but in some parts, It can be a staggering 18 metres! especially near South Ferriby. Also the river bank is home for rats etc in some parts.

I would definitely not recommend or want to risk allowing dogs on the River.

Its also like the BriggLife editor says, there is lots of mud and debris in the water too.

James Martin
jmartin678@yahoo.co.uk

P.S: Take a walk down the River bank in Brigg from Lidl's to the motorway bridge, and you'll see that all the life lines and life buoys have been stolen out of their holders.