River tragedy danger point closed

A GAP in the fencing along the banks of the river in which tragic Wickersley student Matthew Wilcox died has been closed after a campaign by his friends and family.

Matthew’s body was pulled by divers from the River Aire on March 5 after he had been missing for a week.

His death led to the launch of a petition calling for more secure fencing or railings at the riverbank, close to where Matthew's body was recovered.

Matthew’s body was found near where that of another student, 19-year-old Gavin Terry, died two years ago.

Leeds City Council said this week that private landowners had now closed a gap in the fencing along the riverbank near where Matthew is thought to have drowned.

News of the repairs comes just days after hundreds of friends and family paid their final respects to Matthew at the teenager’s funeral in Wickersley last Thursday.

Matthew, a first year geography student at Leeds University and a former Wickersley Comprehensive pupil, was last seen in the early hours of February 26 after leaving the Mission nightclub in Leeds city centre.

His body was found in the river a week later.

Leeds City Council leader Andrew Carter said that private landowners had closed a half-metre gap in the guard railing near Riverside Court after the local authority requested that the work be done.

Mr Carter added: "We wrote to the landowners asking them to put an appropriate piece of fencing across this gap.

“Although this is not our land, we must ensure public safety.

"We will also be looking at other areas of privately-owned land alongside the river which are accessible to the public to check whether there are any hazards.

“Our waterfront is a massive asset to the city and it needs to be safe for everyone to use."

Cllr Carter said that the council would check other areas of privately-owned land to check for any other potential dangers to public safety.