FENCING off a city’s riverbanks in an effort to halt a spate of tragic drownings would be very expensive and ineffective, an independent review has concluded.

However, safety chiefs refused to rule out erecting barriers or gates along the River Wear in Durham – saying nothing had been ruled in or out.

The City Safety Group received the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) review yesterday (Tuesday, April 14) and published it today (Wednesday, April 15), ahead of a press conference to present the findings.

However, the Group has not yet met to discuss the study – so chair Terry Collins could not say what measures would be implemented.

Instead, he said the Group would conduct a “walkabout” on the riverbanks within two weeks, before announcing any changes.

“Now we have RoSPA’s findings we will produce an action plan that will include what will happen and when, including any work to footpaths and railings and a decision on lighting,” Mr Collins said.

The authorities have been trying to make Durham safer since three university students, Sope Peters, Luke Pearce and Euan Coulthard, drowned within 15 months.

A drunk tank, night bus and taxi services and a student-led riverside angels support scheme have already been introduced and pub door breath tests will be piloted soon.

However, whether safety fences should be installed has divided opinion.

The RoSPA report says barriers would be of limited use in many areas but immediate improvements could be made at a small number of locations.

“The isolation of the water via fencing or by enclosing the river corridor by fencing and/or high gates should be considered, although it would be very expensive and easy to defeat as fitting to prevent access would be extremely difficult,” it says.

The review also says: the City Safety Group should “as a priority” decide whether to illuminate the riverbanks; the Best Bar None scheme rewarding responsible pubs and clubs should be further developed; and Durham University should review its alcohol policies.

Professor Graham Towl, the university’s pro-vice-chancellor, said this was already under way.

Mr Collins again said he believed the authorities were doing everything they could, but personal responsibility remained important and he could not guarantee further incidents would not occur.

There were 56 river incidents between January 2010 and March 2015, including five deaths – the three students, 25-year-old Hayley Brown in July 2010 and 67-year-old rowing coach Bill Grant following a medical episode in February.

RoSPA rated only one stretch of the river, between Framwelgate and Mill House Weir, as “high risk” and concluded Durham remained a safe place.