PFD report

Names not published · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 21 Apr 2023•Bedfordshire and Luton

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
5

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of a physical barrier preventing access to the hazardous bottom of the weir
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate physical barriers preventing access to dangerous drops or areas
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.2

  1. Action

    Install a temporary downstream boom while reviewing options for the site, including possible weir removal.

    Stated by Environment AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
  2. Action

    Review all site options, including removal of the legacy weir.

    Stated by Environment AgencyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 February 2024.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of a physical barrier preventing access to the hazardous bottom of the weir

Wider context from the report

“Although there is a physical barrier to prevent access to the top of the weir, there is no similar barrier to prevent access to the bottom which appears just as hazardous in view of the re-circulating flow (or towback), particularly during time of high water levels. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate physical barriers preventing access to dangerous drops or areas.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Install a temporary downstream boom while reviewing options for the site, including possible weir removal.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As a result of the review for this site, whilst the facts of the incident are being established we are taking the following actions;”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 1 · response
Published 23 February 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review all site options, including removal of the legacy weir.

Verbatim wording from the response

“1. Installation of a boom downstream of the weir on a temporary basis whilst a review of all the options for the site (including the removal of the weir) is undertaken. The weir serves no operational purpose to the delivery of the Environment Agency’s functions. It is a legacy asset, inherited from a predecessor body.”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 1 · response
Published 23 February 2024

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Continue liaising with partner organisations and stakeholders on best practice for managing weirs.

    Stated by Environment AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
  2. 2

    Continue working with partner organisations to deliver a national water safety communication campaign.

    Stated by Environment AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
  3. 3

    Install grab lines and throw lines on downstream banks to aid rescue and exit from the watercourse.

    Stated by Environment AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.2

  1. 1

    Physical control of water-based activities outside statutory navigation and on land it does not own is largely outside the authority's powers.

    Stated by Environment AgencyOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
  2. 2

    Use of and presence in watercourses outside statutory navigation are private property matters concerning the owners of the watercourse bed.

    Stated by Environment AgencyRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue liaising with partner organisations and stakeholders on best practice for managing weirs.

Verbatim wording from the response

“4. Continued liaison with our partner organisations and stakeholders (including membership of The National Water Safety Forum and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) in respect of the best practice for the management of weirs.”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 23 February 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue working with partner organisations to deliver a national water safety communication campaign.

Verbatim wording from the response

“3. Continue working with partner organisations for the delivery of a national water safety communication campaign, which aim to educate and increase public awareness of the hazards associated with the recreational use of watercourses, including structures within the channel and river control assets.”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 23 February 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Install grab lines and throw lines on downstream banks to aid rescue and exit from the watercourse.

Verbatim wording from the response

“2. Installation of grab lines and throw lines on the downstream banks of the watercourse adjoining the weir, to aid rescue and exit from the watercourse. The timeframe to install the boom and grab/throw lines is dependent on the practical issues set out below (liaison with the landowner, and geology of the fixing points) but we are endeavouring to progress this as quickly as possible.”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 23 February 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Physical control of water-based activities outside statutory navigation and on land it does not own is largely outside the authority's powers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“9. Having considered the wider circumstances regarding this site, we are aware that there are canoe/kayak/paddleboard hire centres in the nearby vicinity. There is also a free carpark and known craft launch points with free access in the immediate locality. Anecdotally we have been informed that one of the centres uses the weir for supervised white-water training. The Environment Agency has limited powers to physically exert any control over these activities and this is even more so the case outside of the statutory navigation and on land not within our ownership which approaches the weir.”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 3 · response
Published 23 February 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Use of and presence in watercourses outside statutory navigation are private property matters concerning the owners of the watercourse bed.

Verbatim wording from the response

“8. There is no statutory right to navigate the waters leading up to and surrounding Kempston Weir. The statutory navigation begins downstream at Kempston Mill. The Environment Agency are the Navigation Authority for the statutory navigation. Use of”

Source location

Response from Enviroment Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 23 February 2024

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026