Due to the many tragic accidents that have occurred in Saltford and the number of people who become ill after entering the water, Saltford Parish Council looks to raise awareness about water safety when possible, which can include supporting relevant campaigns by other organisations e.g. campaigns by Avon Fire & Rescue and the Royal Life Saving Society UK. Please see our social media news feeds for posts and SPC’s news articles.
B&NES Council is the authority responsible for emergency planning and resilience in Saltford, and is also the riparian owner of river side areas in Saltford and the green spaces nearby. Saltford Parish Council is not responsible for river or water safety in the village but, as above, aims to support water safety awareness and looks to engage with appropriate authorities to achieve safety improvements locally.
Wessex Water AI App
Since January 2024, SPC has been supporting Wessex Water to investigate the possibilities of a Water Quality App based on data from the river in Saltford. This would help awareness for those looking to enter the water, especially in consideration of the number of people who become unwell due to water quality at the river in Saltford. Please view SPC’s minutes for more information. For more about water quality and Wessex Water’s storm overflows at the river in Saltford, please view our River water quality in Saltford page (including maps).
Water safety signage – B&NES Council
B&NES Council is the riparian owner of the riverbank and so any safety signage on public land is a B&NES Council responsibility. In 2021, SPC has requested more safety signs on the river bank and in river side areas in Saltford. SPC is grateful to B&NES Council for putting up signs on and under the Bristol to Bath Railway Path bridge (LMS Bridge) at the request of the Parish Council, to raise awareness of the dangers of entering the river at this location.
In May 2025, SPC requested new and replacement signs at the LMS bridge, to warn of the dangers of the river at this location. SPC appreciates B&NES Council’s swift action to achieve this.
Photo shows two of the many new or replacement signs added by B&NES Council at SPC’s request in May 2025
SPC requested these signs due to the severe and life-threatening consequences of river access near or even from the bridge. According to ROSPA’s website dangers of accessing the river here are due to:
- ~ Water depths alter with the tide – the water may be shallower than it seems
- ~ Submerged objects like rocks may not be visible – these can cause serious impact injuries
- ~ The shock of cold water can make it difficult to swim
- ~ Getting out of the water is often more difficult than people realise
- ~ Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
- ~ Recreational river users could be below (paddleboarders, canal boats)
Water safety signage – Avon Fire and Rescue
At SPC’s request in 2022 a poster campaign was created for Saltford by Avon Fire and Rescue to raise awareness of water safety. ‘Hidden dangers’ and ‘Float to live’ posters can now be seen on display near the river and on noticeboards in the village. If you would like A4 posters or A5 leaflets to display or share please contact the SPC Office. SPC thanks the team at Avon Fire and Rescue for creating these and contacting local river side businesses to display.
SPC is in ongoing contact with Avon Fire and Rescue Service regarding river safety. Actions include requesting visits to Saltford’s river side areas by the Hicks Gate team during the busy summer months to engage with river users regarding river safety. Following SPC raising concerns about river safety, the Avon Fire and Rescue team also intend to visit local secondary schools to educate KS3 pupils on the dangers of swimming in the river and near Saltford Weir (Saltford Lock). SPC also looks to support Avon Fire and Rescue Service water safety campaigns, such as #HiddenDangers.
Water safety – SPC communications and meetings
As well as the busy summer months, SPC also raises awareness of water safety in the winter months when the river is high and fast flowing, and adjacent paths are slippery. Please follow SPC on Facebook.
In recent years SPC has approached the Environment Agency, B&NES Council, and Wessex Water raising concerns about river safety, safety awareness and River Avon water quality. This includes highlighting concerns regarding storm overflows into the River Avon at Saltford.
River safety is discussed (when required) at Parish Council meetings . Any agreed actions and updates about river safety matters can be found in Saltford Parish Council’s published minutes. Further, SPC engages with the River Avon Users Consultative Committee (RAUCC) about improving river safety in Saltford. Updates from SPC’s ‘Link Member’ for RAUCC can be found under ‘Link Members’ in SPC’s minutes.
Water safety – SPC grants
SPC awarded a £500 grant to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity at its September 2020 meeting. In 2019 the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity’s Critical Care Team were tasked to five critically ill and injured patients in Saltford. In past years, the GWAAC has attended several river accidents and incidents in Saltford due to the remote and hard-to-reach nature of Saltford’s river side areas.
SPC requests B&NES Council takes responsibility for a safer cleaner river and river side
Saltford Parish Council resolved at its Full Council meeting in February 2023 to request B&NES Council to take responsibility for a safer, cleaner river for users and wildlife. B&NES Council is the riparian owner of the river bank in Saltford, and as such SPC views the litter on the river bank and pollution caused by sunken boats attached to B&NES Council owned land as B&NES Council’s responsibility to address. A copy of SPC’s request to B&NES Council can be found here and below. Please also see SPC’s news article ‘SPC requests B&NES Council takes responsibility for a safer cleaner river (inc river bank)’ published in February 2023.