New fencing to be installed to prevent bridge suicides
ONE of the most harrowing stories in Calderdale’s history has sparked action to prevent more suicides.
The tragedy of Ursula Keogh, 11,
who plunged from North Bridge at Halifax last year, shocked the nation.
At the November 2018 inquest into her death in January last year, Senior Coroner Martin Fleming, urged Calderdale Council to act faster to prevent any more deaths from the historic bridge.
Two others had taken their own lives from the bridge during 2017.
A council official summoned to the inquest, told Mr Fleming temporary fencing was too difficult due to planning issues, but said they would install a permanent structure by May this year.
Sadly, just a few weeks after Mr Fleming’s call for urgent action, another woman fell to her death from the bridge.
Three months on from that devastating incident, Calderdale Council says it is installing new fencing there this week as part of its suicide prevention plan.
At the end of last year, new CCTV cameras were installed, which have already been used to alert the council and partners to vulnerable people on the bridge.
Additional works are now taking place to install anti-climb mesh and new sloping metal covers on existing features to reduce accessibility to the parapets.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Strategy, Clr Barry Collins, said: “The council has an important role in preventing suicides and it’s something we take very seriously.
“We’re investing around £200,000 in improving safety measures on North Bridge. This is part of our work to reduce access to the means of suicide – an important aspect of our suicide prevention plan.
“We’ll continue towork with other organisations as part of the Suicide Prevention Group, to do all we can to reduce the rate in Calderdale.”
The Council’s suicide prevention plan sets out a range of initiatives to prevent suicides, which includes a programme of support.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, Clr Faisal Shoukat, said: “Although the works on North Bridge are a visible way that we’re aiming to prevent suicide, we want to remind people that there’s a wide range of support available.
“The Samaritans offer a free confidential service, 24 hours a day on 116 123. People can also contact their local NHS trust 24 hours a day, by calling 01924 316830. There’s no need to suffer in silence.”