Safety scheme drawn up for infamous ford
Plans are being drawn up to reopen an infamous ford closed on safety grounds and people have until the end of January to comment on safety measures at the site.
Rufford Ford in Nottinghamshire gained notoriety around the world due to TikTok and YouTube videos of cars splashing through, and sometimes getting stuck.
Rufford Lane was closed at the request of police in December 2022 but now Nottinghamshire County Council is investigating ways to open back up with measures in place.
A consultation is running until 30 January over plans to install CCTV, three speed bumps on each approach to the crossing, and flood gates to close off the road when river levels rise.
A previous consultation saw a majority of people objecting to a full closure of the ford, with the council stating many suggesting traffic calming as an alternative.
Councillor for transport and environment Bert Bingham said the authority was "committed to finding a solution to the issues", adding: "I would encourage everybody to take part in this consultation and help us deliver a scheme that works for everybody."
Rufford Ford has existed for centuries and predates motor vehicles but a council report claimed there was a "dangerous escalation of exhibitionist behaviour" when people started filming the crossing for social media, beginning in about 2020.
"These videos quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and drawing other 'digital creators' from across the country to film," the report said.
"There are now many thousands of videos and clips on various social media channels with many millions of views.
"As typical with social media content, the higher number of views correlate with the spectacle provided and consequently this resulted in a dangerous escalation of exhibitionist behaviour."
The council closed the ford in December 2022, after a motorcyclist rode through at speed, was thrown off his bike and broke his leg.
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