The grieving family and friends of Naomi Sims have accused council chiefs of dragging their heels over safety measures on meadows next to the River Glyme.

Naomi, ten, died in May when she fell into the river while playing with a friend.

She was sucked into the fast-flowing waters of a sluice and trapped against a drain. She was pulled from the water by firefighters but died several hours later in hospital.

Last week, West Oxfordshire District Council members rejected a request from Woodstock town councillors for £10,000 towards the cost of £25,600 package of safety measures recommended by the Environment Agency.

Naomi's mother, Bridget Hogg, of Bear Close, Woodstock, said: "It has been 22 weeks since the accident and I feel the town council is trying to sweep this under the carpet. There has been the death of a child and they are still not doing anything. It is not safe down there and all the council is doing is haggling over money." Family friend Mrs Karen Scroggs, who has been campaigning for safety measures, said: "I am appalled and I think most people in Woodstock have lost a lot of faith in the town council. I know they did some temporary work in the two weeks after Naomi's death, but it is now 22 weeks.

"They did nothing during the summer holidays and now with all the rain, the river is rising and I fear the same thing will happen again.

"No signs have been put up warning of danger. The town council is dragging its heels and should pull its finger out. I think they should do the work now and discuss the money later." Woodstock council clerk Marian Moxon said a temporary cover had been put around the sluice and fencing erected immediately after the accident.

The council had been advised to build a bridge across the sluice and was approaching different organisations for money as well as the Duke of Marlborough.

The most important and vital work is being carried out on the sluice and we believe it is safe for people to walk along the water meadows," said Mrs Moxon.

Mrs Hogg was also concerned a date had not been set for Naomi's inquest.

Police spokesman David Campbell said a date for the inquest would be sorted out in the next few days.

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