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25
Dec 2020
Yorkshire Water has closed a temporary footpath at Swinsty reservoir that has drawn complaints about it being too muddy to use safely.
The footpath was introduced last month while maintenance works takes place on the usual route.
The closure will continue until the £6m works are completed in summer 2022.
It means there will no longer be a circular walking route at the popular beauty spot, which many people from the Harrogate district visit over the festive period.
The Stray Ferret reported how a pregnant woman had to be rescued by a passing family after she struggled to walk the diversion.
The company has employed marshals over the break to offer advice to visitors on safety issues, including parking if the car parks become full.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said it expected Swinsty to be busy over the festive period and the diversion south of the reservoir, which went through farmer's fields, had become too muddy.
Marshals at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over Christmas
Swinsty reservoir footpath diversion ‘too muddy to walk’
An updated map of the current walking routes at Swinsty is below:
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