Dog death leads to safety measures at river drain

The death of a dog has led to a grate being installed across a river drain to prevent further deaths.

Sprocker spaniel Rae died when she was sucked into a culvert at Mouldon Hill Lake which is connected to the River Ray. There have been other reports of dogs dying in the same way.

Owner Matt Jack said it was "really good news it has been sorted" but that he was "absolutely fuming" that other dogs had died in the same way but nothing had been done.

Haydon Wick Parish Council said it had pushed Swindon Borough Council to make changes.

The culvert drains overflow from the lake into the nearby river.

People living nearby joined Matt and his wife in the search for Rae which went on for two days.

Drones and a sniffer dog were used and people waded through reeds before Matt found Rae himself.

Rae had become trapped after being sucked into the culvert.

Matt said he had expected there to be a grate across it.

"There's no question at all that a small child could fit in there," he said.

He said Rae had good recall and had been to the same area many times before.

"We were absolutely fuming," he said. "It's a choice to do nothing."

Councillors Leanne Stevenson and Vinay Manro were parish councillors at the time and they have since become Swindon borough councillors.

They said the infrastructure was under borough council control so their "direct authority was limited".

The pair raised it formally and pressed the borough council for action.

They explained they were aware of two other previous incidents involving the culvert.

Manro said previous grates over the culvert had either deteriorated or been damaged.

"These new ones are robust and strongly bolted in," he said.

Manro said park wardens would monitor the site during monthly checks.

It has prompted a review of other sites, such as Coatewater.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: "When we were made aware of concerns from visitors high water levels meant a more permanent solution wasn't possible so a temporary barrier was installed.

"Last month, when the water level reduced, our team was able to install a permanent fixed grill to prevent animals getting stuck in the culvert."

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