Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Derek Nixon

Ref: 2016-0103 Date: 10 Mar 2016 Coroner: Ian Smith Area: Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire 1 response identified · 1 indexed addressee View PDF

AI-generated concerns summaryThe removal of railings at the end of Fountain Street encouraged pedestrians to cross Ball Haye Street at an unsafe 'Keep Clear' point, bypassing the pedestrian crossing. The coroner requested the council review the area for possible modifications, such as reinstating railings.

Date 10 Mar 2016

56-day deadline 5 May 2016 est. estimated from the report date

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The removal of railings at the end of Fountain Street encouraged pedestrians to cross Ball Haye Street at an unsafe 'Keep Clear' point, bypassing the pedestrian crossing. The coroner requested the council review the area for possible modifications, such as reinstating railings.

View full coroner's concerns

heard evidence at the inquest on 18"h February 2016 of the various changes which had been made to the road and pavement infrastructure at Ball Haye Street, Fountain Street and Derby Street; Leek: noted that certain iron railings at the end of Fountain Street had been removed, heard police evidence that many pedestrians, by far the majority , when walking down Fountain Street then walked across Ball Haye Street at the 'Keep Clear' point because there was nothing to prevent them: The pedestrian crossing is a few yards down the road but human beings will take short cuts when on foot, even if this puts them in danger: would ask that the council looks afresh at this area and consider what modifications might be made Railings might be appropriate the Haye his the lorry and make no comments on the remainder of the town centre road alterations, these did not feature in the inquest and are therefore outside my remit:

Responses

1 respondent

Staffordshire County Council

Local Authority

PDF

AI-classified response stance Action Planned

AI-generated response summary

• An investigation assessed the current road layout and pedestrian facilities at the junction. • It is proposed not to reinstate the 'Keep Clear' marking on Ball Haye Street at the junction of Fountain Street. • It is proposed to install a short section of guardrail around the northern radius of the Fountain Street junction.

View full response

Dear Mr Smith, Re: Derek Nixon (Deceased) refer to Regulation 28 Report regarding the inquest into the death of Derek Nixon and your comments concerning the changes made to the road and pavement infrastructure, specifically at the junction of Ball Haye Street and Fountain Street Leek_ This letter is in response to your matters of concern recorded in section 5 and the actions you believe should be implemented in section 6 of your report: An investigation has taken place which assessed the current road layout ad the existing pedestrian facilities at this location. As part of the investigation, pedestrian surveys were undertaken and these indicated that pedestrians are extensively utilising the Zebra crossing facility near to Queen Street and the crossing facility at the War Memorial: A significantly lower number of pedestrians are choosing to cross at the northern radius of the junction when travelling westbound from Fountain Street: As part of this investigation, two measures have been recommended. Firstly it is proposed to not to reinstate the 'Keep Clear' marking on Ball Haye Street at the junction of Fountain Street which was recently removed as part of planned highway maintenance works. Secondly it is proposed to install short section of guardrail around the northern radius of the Fountain Street junction: It is proposed that these measures are funded from the 2016/17 financial year Capital Programme and be carried out alongside planned highway maintenance works in the Leek area: the knot unites your

Staffordshire County Council hope the information provided within this letter is useful . Please let me know if you require anything further:

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 9"h April 2015, commenced an investigation into the death of Derek Nixon aged 80 years_ The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest 0n18th February 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Nixon died as a result of multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision.

Circumstances of the death

On the morning of Znd April 2015 the deceased walked into Leek town and attended a routine appointment with his doctor on Fountain Street; Leek; leaving surgery at approximately 9.45am. He proceeded down Fountain Street towards Ball Haye Street and Derby Street: At 9.58am he walked across the front of a rigid goods lorry which had stopped in Ball Street for traffic lights. The driver of the lorry did not see the deceased due to elevated position in lorry cab: The moved forwards as the lights changed just as the deceased was immediately in front of the lorry and he was knocked to the ground, passing under both front offside wheels and sustaining fatal injuries Police paramedics attended and he was pronounced dead at 10.16am:

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken t0 prevent future deaths and believe you andlor your organisation have the power to take such action.

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Shared signals

Report details

Reference: 2016-0103
Date of report: 10 March 2016
Coroner: Ian Smith
Coroner area: Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 5 May 2016 (estimated from the report date).

Sent to

Staffordshire County Council

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk.

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