City council leaders insisted yesterday they had not scrimped on safety measures on Oxford's towpath in the wake of the death of teenager Ben Halsey-Jones.

Sid Phelps, chairman of the council's environment scrutiny committee, spoke of his concern after a report to councillors described some recommendations, including widening towpaths, as "too onerous".

But at yesterday's executive board, Jean Fooks, the executive member with responsibility for towpath maintenance, stressed there was "no question" of scrimping on funding for safety measures along the towpath.

She added that a £450,000 project was well under way to improve safety at Fiddler's Island, repairing the riverbanks and improving the towpath.

The county council is leading the project with a £400,000 contribution, while the city council is giving £50,000. The work could take several months to complete.

Ms Fooks added: "We had a ghastly tragedy which highlighted the need to do all we could to reduce the risk of accidents.

"I am sorry there is a misapprehension of scrimping on safety. We are absolutely not."

Among the recommendations approved by councillors yesterday include erecting 24 new pictorial warning signs alerting the public to deep water on access points to the Thames and Cherwell.

They also agreed the councils should continue working together to promote river safety in local schools.

But some recommendations put forward by councillors on the environment scrutiny committee did not get the go-ahead.

These include raising the level of the towpath, which the Environment Agency advised against, and erecting signs when there is a flood warning.

Ben Halsey-Jones, 15, died after falling into the river at Fiddler's Island in January. He was cycling along the towpath at the time of the accident.

The temporary fence from Rainbow Bridge to near Fiddler's Island is expected to remain in place until towpath repairs are completed.

Members of the executive board agreed to back 12 out of 15 towpath and riverside improvements recommended by the environment scrutiny committee.

A further report will be submitted to the environment scrutiny committee in six months' time once the improvements have been implemented.

Executive board members also yesterday agreed to spend £50,000 on flood prevention measures, to fund ditch clearing, provide more sandbags and buy a pump.