West Sussex County Council
Local Authority / Fire Service
Action Planned
West Sussex County Council describes plans to install additional infrastructure at the end of South Bank, including replacing a missing wooden post with way-markers and installing bollards with reflectors. These works are expected to be completed by 31 July 2025. (AI summary)
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Dear
Inquest into the death of Doreen Turner (Your ref: 03075-2024)
Thank you for your covering letter and Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths issued by Joanne Andrews, Area Coroner, dated 30th April 2025 (ref 03075-2024), the County Council would like to respond with the comments and actions detailed below. Following the police notification of Mrs Turner’s crash the authority began its own well- established investigation procedure. This included undertaking a site visit and discussing the incident with Sussex Police. As a result, proposals have been designed to install additional infrastructure at the end of South Bank. These works consist of:
• Replacing a missing wooden post with way-markers on the canal towpath to the north side.
• Installing bollards with reflectors on the canal bank within the gap between an existing traffic sign post and the northern end of the turning head.
It is considered the above works will provide clear indication of the end of the road and mitigate the risk of a similar incident to that of Mrs Turner occurring in the future. With regard to the Matters of Concern raised:
As noted, South Bank is a residential cul de sac. Traffic speeds approaching the end of the road are very low as drivers approach with caution influenced by the narrow confines of the road due to on-street parking. It is appreciated that the kerb height in the turning head at the end of South Bank is lower than many kerbs at the edge of a public highway, although it does still provide sufficient physical separation between the road edge and the grass bank of the canal to give a physical and audible warning to a driver. Raising the height of the kerbs would not necessarily offer any additional prevention of a vehicle overrunning onto the bank, unless they were of such a height as to fully stop a vehicle – this type of kerbing would be a significant visual intrusion and disruption to the canal bank.
It is acknowledged there are no devices present for a section of the canal bank. It is believed the proposed works to install bollards with reflectors will provide approaching drivers with a clearer visual indication of the end of the road. An order has been placed for the works and they are expected to be completed by 31 July 2025.
Inquest into the death of Doreen Turner (Your ref: 03075-2024)
Thank you for your covering letter and Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths issued by Joanne Andrews, Area Coroner, dated 30th April 2025 (ref 03075-2024), the County Council would like to respond with the comments and actions detailed below. Following the police notification of Mrs Turner’s crash the authority began its own well- established investigation procedure. This included undertaking a site visit and discussing the incident with Sussex Police. As a result, proposals have been designed to install additional infrastructure at the end of South Bank. These works consist of:
• Replacing a missing wooden post with way-markers on the canal towpath to the north side.
• Installing bollards with reflectors on the canal bank within the gap between an existing traffic sign post and the northern end of the turning head.
It is considered the above works will provide clear indication of the end of the road and mitigate the risk of a similar incident to that of Mrs Turner occurring in the future. With regard to the Matters of Concern raised:
As noted, South Bank is a residential cul de sac. Traffic speeds approaching the end of the road are very low as drivers approach with caution influenced by the narrow confines of the road due to on-street parking. It is appreciated that the kerb height in the turning head at the end of South Bank is lower than many kerbs at the edge of a public highway, although it does still provide sufficient physical separation between the road edge and the grass bank of the canal to give a physical and audible warning to a driver. Raising the height of the kerbs would not necessarily offer any additional prevention of a vehicle overrunning onto the bank, unless they were of such a height as to fully stop a vehicle – this type of kerbing would be a significant visual intrusion and disruption to the canal bank.
It is acknowledged there are no devices present for a section of the canal bank. It is believed the proposed works to install bollards with reflectors will provide approaching drivers with a clearer visual indication of the end of the road. An order has been placed for the works and they are expected to be completed by 31 July 2025.