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[manzara]

An 11-mile coastal footpath, built at a cost of £30,000 by the Rotary Club to allow ramblers to enjoy the scenery along Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, has fallen foul of elf'n'safety. Dumfries and Galloway Council officials fear hikers may slip and graze their knees. They are also worried that the route goes through a field of cows.

It gets sillier. Elf'n'safety is so concerned that someone might fall in the loch and drown, they are insisting that a lifeguard has to be present at all times.

The council will allow organised groups to use the footpath only if they are supervised by a 'trained outdoor specialist' - whatever that is.

When they are not finding out what people enjoy doing and thinking up ways to ban it, these maniacs are capable of turning any innocent pleasure into a job-creation scheme.

Next thing, they'll be demanding handrails on every hillside.

How long before they insist that everyone has to wear a hard hat and a high-viz lifejacket before they're allowed to venture into the countryside?

I really do feel that even thinking about the PC and Health & Safety 'experts' could seriously damage your health!

[travelmonster]

Dumfries and Galloway Council officials fear hikers may slip and graze their knees.

Beaurocracy gone mad! I remember when I was younger if you slipped and grazed your knees you thought, hmm won't do that again, or I'll be a bit more careful with that next time.

When they are not finding out what people enjoy doing and thinking up ways to ban it, .

Or tax it

[kathryn77]

[i]they are insisting that a lifeguard has to be present at all times.

if they are supervised by a 'trained outdoor specialist' - whatever that is.

Where did you see this article? Was it published on April Fools Day?

[mmbcross]

Now you know what it feels like to live in the USA. It's the land of milk and honey for wildly wealthy lawyers and insurance companies, where we even have to be covered in order to get out of bed just in case we slip and fall.

[sianeth]

Actually cows are quite scary! Didn't they kill or badly injure someone out walking lately? I'd be a bit worried if I was cornered in a field by a load of cows...

[travelmonster]

A few cows chased me a couple of years ago when me and John were out walking - I jumped over a four bar gate quicker than I'd done in years!!

[mmbcross]

I thought it was the bulls you had to be afraid of. Cows just seem to stare at you and chew the cud.

[sianeth]

Case in point!!!

David Dimbleby knocked out by bullock...

LONDON — Broadcaster David Dimbleby missed hosting Question Time for the first time in 15 years after been knocked unconscious by a bullock.

The BBC presenter blacked out briefly when the animal reared as he loaded it on to a trailer on Wednesday.

[travelmonster]

I thought it was the bulls you had to be afraid of. Cows just seem to stare at you and chew the cud.

You know, thats exactly what I thought till I got chased by them!!