Local Labour councillors are calling for suicide prevention measures at a Bishop Auckland blackspot to be speeded up.
After spending years campaigning for barriers, lighting and signage at Newton Cap Viaduct, Cllr Rob Yorke has welcomed new measure announced this week, but has questioned why work cannot begin immediately.
With almost 200 incidents at the viaduct in recent years, Cllr Yorke and colleague Cllr Charlie Kay criticised the delay in greenlighting an action plan and questioned how many more suicides and attempted suicides may occur between now and installation of the preventative measures in April 2023.
Cllr Yorke said:
“There have been 190 reported incidents over the last five years at Newton Cap Viaduct – that is an average of one every nine or ten days! Why has it taken to long to get these suicide prevention measures agreed and in place?
“We have worked shoulder to shoulder with Durham County Council officers, local partners and residents over the last few years to tackle this issue, which has only worsened as suicide rates have risen nationally. While we appreciate the announcements that barriers will be installed next April and, as councillors, we know it takes time to go through formal approvals in respect of conservation and heritage applications, but things continue to move at a slow pace, which just isn’t good enough when need is so acute.”
While new signage is in place, it will take until next April for safety barriers and guardrails, CCTV and lighting to be installed.
Cllr Kay said:
“The various measures being implemented by the County Council are welcomed and, quite frankly, essential, as we continue to try and address rising suicide rates.
“We have been asking and campaigning for these measures for years, and throughout 2022, had been assured that they would be in place by September – we have to be able to speed up these clunky processes when people’s lives are concerned and I’d really like to know why it has taken so long to get this plan actioned and measures implemented sooner”
Joy Allen, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
“This is welcome news that can’t come soon enough for residents, families and councillors who have been calling for these preventative measures for many years.
“So many people lives have been affected by these incidents and many people including police officers have been traumatised having witnessed or being involved in these tragic events when they have intervened to save a life or involved afterwards, sometimes suffering long term post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Interim measures will be crucial to help prevent further incidents in the short term.”