A water feature costing £1million has been bricked up after distracted commuters staring at their phones kept falling into it.
The owners of the Rill, a 260-metre open channel of flowing water, are said to have been worried about potential lawsuits from pedestrians glued to their screens.
The aqueous connector has linked Tower Bridge with London Bridge Station since the early 2000s.
But drastic action was taken over fears that commuters had started tripping over the feature while texting, listening to music on their phones and making calls.
A water feature costing £1million has been bricked up after distracted commuters staring at their phones kept falling into it
The owners of the Rill, a 260-metre open channel of flowing water, are said to have been worried about potential lawsuits from pedestrians glued to their screens. The aqueous connector has linked Tower Bridge with London Bridge Station since the early 2000s
Signs were erected at the beginning of the month explaining that ‘essential maintenance’ was taking place, while the water feature was fenced off, drained and filled in.
Many people living in the area said they were disappointed – and blamed it on extra footfall created by the development of London Bridge Station.
Writing on A London Blog, one fan of the water feature said it was ‘now seen as a health and safety risk as people constantly slip into it and there must have been a number of minor injuries.’
They added: ‘There have been no major incidents the staff tell me, but all the same, it is being removed.
‘I suppose management (or perhaps the insurers of the development for all we know) decided the feature was no longer sustainable.
‘It’s a shame really as it was a nice water feature, some will think it’s health and safety gone mad.
‘Well it had a run of sixteen years which is good considering it was even approved in the first place!
‘When I first saw it I had wondered how such a feature could have been allowed.
Signs were erected at the beginning of the month explaining that ‘essential maintenance’ was taking place, while the water feature was fenced off, drained and filled in
The planning application to pave over the popular feature was submitted to Southwark Council by Broadgate Estates Limited in May, but the work appears to have been quickly carried out already
They continued: ‘Evidently it was permitted and many people came to like it. I took lots of pictures of it over the sixteen years and saw quite a number of near misses.
‘Yes people stumbled, one or two even slipped into it, but no one the worse for wear however.’
One commenter said on a local website: ‘It is a lovely feature, but with the area getting so busy it’s dangerous. Last week I saw two people fall/trip due to the flurry of commuters rush towards the station.’
Borough Bloke said: ‘Like others I love it, but have tripped on it more than once and ended up with a shoe full of water too. Not surprised they are infilling it.’
Georgie Shaw added: ‘Perhaps if people looked where they were going, rather than for example, at their phones, even the small amount of people falling into it could be avoided?’
Another said he had written to the owners to ask why the Rill was being removed and was told: ‘The Estate is undertaking hard landscaping works in the area to increase the extent of tactile paving.’
Businessman David Keavney, 36, who works nearby, said he wasn’t surprised to see it closed.
Many people living in the area said they were disappointed – and blamed it on extra footfall created by the development of London Bridge Station
He said: ‘Obviously it’s a shame but I understand it was because people were tripping into it whilst on their phones.
‘The amount of people I’ve seen walking and texting and they fall over, it happens all the time.
‘I’m all for design but public safety has to be a priority.’
In 2013, Kuwati firm St Martins Group spent £1.7 billion purchasing the complex known as More London, which includes Sadiq Khan’s headquarters City Hall.
The planning application to pave over the popular feature was submitted to Southwark Council by Broadgate Estates Limited in May, but the work appears to have been quickly carried out already.
An unnamed security guard said he had received many complaints from passers-by about its closure.
The feature was particularly popular with children, who loved to paddle in it, while others rode their bikes through the water.
An unnamed security guard said he had received many complaints from passers-by about its closure
An objector said: ‘The Rill adds character and children enjoy playing with it. ‘Filling it in will make the area a boring concrete corridor between office blocks’
One objector to the application said: ‘Please don’t bow down to fear of litigation or complaint from the minority of society who are imbeciles and constantly point the finger to blame others.
‘Instead, act for the majority, whose days are brightened up just that little bit by the simple pleasure of walking to work alongside a tiny stream.’
Another said: ‘The Rill water feature may be a somewhat idiosyncratic feature, but it is an attractive feature which adds greatly to the character, distinctiveness and enjoyment of this public space.’
Another objector added: ‘The Rill adds character and children enjoy playing with it. ‘Filling it in will make the area a boring concrete corridor between office blocks.’
The planning documents state that The Rill will be blocked up in a way that means it could be reinstated.
Sarah Gaventa, a public space expert, said it may have been ‘too high maintenance or a health and safety risk.’
On Twitter, she described the reasons for closure as ‘the go to excuses for those who prefer dull public spaces.’
Sarah Gaventa, a public space expert, said it may have been ‘too high maintenance or a health and safety risk.’ On Twitter, she described the reasons for closure as ‘the go to excuses for those who prefer dull public spaces’
Lib Dem councillor for Borough and Bankside ward, Adele Morris, said it was ‘a shame.’
She added: ‘Maybe they were a hazard to those with restricted vision or mobility, but if that is the case what a pity they couldn’t find a workable solution.’
Ian Kirkpatrick, commercial director of the Fountain Workshop, based at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, which built the water feature, said he was disappointed.
He said: ‘We don’t know why the decision was made.
‘We designed the water feature but we don’t own it. The company that does took the decision to infill it.
‘They didn’t discuss it with us, we don’t know why they took that decision.
‘But obviously we are very sad to see it go.’
Broadgate Estates, which manages More London, did not respond to a request for comment.