Call for ‘death bridge’ action

NELSON LEADER
The Reedyford footbridge, over Junction 13 of the M65, near Nelson and Colne College - where a man attempted to jump.  There are calls for signs and fencing around the site.NELSON LEADER
The Reedyford footbridge, over Junction 13 of the M65, near Nelson and Colne College - where a man attempted to jump.  There are calls for signs and fencing around the site.
NELSON LEADER The Reedyford footbridge, over Junction 13 of the M65, near Nelson and Colne College - where a man attempted to jump. There are calls for signs and fencing around the site.
Concerned councillors and Pendle’s MP have said that action needs to be taken after another man threatened to jump from a motorway bridge.

The terrifying incident is one in a list of logs recently placed with Lancashire Police for Junction 13 of the M65 at Reedyford.

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And now a debate has been sparked over whether signage or suicide-proof fencing is needed on the footbridge near to Nelson and Colne College.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “Whenever something like this happens we need to look at options.

“I am not sure physically whether fencing is a possibility there, but I am more than happy to look into it.

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“Sometimes signage can help – at Nelson’s multi-storey car park, the phone number for the Samaritans was clearly displayed so someone who was feeling very low had an option to speak to someone who could help them confidentially.”

The latest incident saw a man taken to Burnley General Hospital on Friday, after being talked down from the bridge by officers at 5-30am. The motorway and slip road were closed for approximately 20 minutes while polcie dealt with the situation.

Just four months before, a Barrowford woman had fallen to her death from the same footbridge.

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Coun. Mohammed Iqbal, who represents the Bradley ward, said: “Quite clearly we need to look at options, but I don’t think fencing is the solution.

“There needs to be some type of in depth analysis from medical professionals. I would happily support something like signage as well.”

And Coun. Nadeem Younis added that the issue would be raised at a future Nelson Area Committee meeting.

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He said: “Nelson Area Committee will look to see what other safety measures can be put in place, and what steps need to be taken to prevent any further suicides.”

Fencing was installed at Pendle Rise car park in January last year – after calls were made by Coun. Eileen Ansar.

Eight people had died after falling from the Netherfield Road car stack in just over 10 years.

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Responding Dave Beaton, Deputy Director for Highways at LCC, said: “We’re obviously keen to look at ways to protect the public at any potential suicide locations and will discuss this further with our colleagues at Lancashire Police.”

Anybody wanting to talk to the Samaritans can call 08457 90 90 90.