Free The Quay
- Thread starter MikeBz
- Start date
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Just came across this.
Accidents happen every day, that part of life
http://www.maldonandburnhamstandard...cision_to_remove_security_fence/?ref=mr&lp=15
[ A HEARTBROKEN daughter whose father died at Mistley Quay has spoken of her shock a security fence could be removed after a High Court decision.
The fence was put up at the quay by Trent Wharfage nine years ago, sparking anger from many residents who set up by Free the Quay campaign.
The group celebrated victory in the High Court earlier this month and the controversial fence could now be taken down.
The High Court said the quay – which is designated as a village green – should be accessible to all. The quay’s owner may still appeal against the decision.
The campaign group is set to hold a victory rally at the Quay on Sunday but Jackie Lester, 70, of Tall Trees, Mile End, Colchester, said the court decision is not a cause for celebration.
Her father Jack Branch, who lived in Harwich Road, Mistley, and worked at Mistley Maltings, died aged 72 at the quay in February 1991.
She said: “My father drowned there because there was no fence. The Health and Safety Executive not only recommended but demanded a fence be put up and that’s what TWL did.
“Before he died he was in a bad state of depression. We had been monitoring his medication but he had spat it out.
“An inquest recorded an open verdict. There was knee-deep snow and it is not known whether he slipped or jumped into the water.
“If there was a fence there at the time he would have had to climb it and that would have been a deterrent - he might have changed his mind.
“If he did slip, then the fence would have prevented him falling into the river.”
Mrs Lester said she received a hostile reception from some who want the fence to be removed.
“I lived in California Road, Mistley, when I was growing up. I was brought up there and I know all the people who attended the public hearing.
“It was quite hostile. People have told me I have no right to an opinion but I’m an Essex County Council taxpayer and so are my family.
“I have campaigned for the fence at the quay. I find it ridiculous that people don’t want a fence here. It’s an industrial area.”
Free the Quay campaigners have welcomed the outcome of the court case. Simon Bullimore, chairman of the group, said he hopes the site’s owner will enter into dialogue with campaigners about “a more suitable barrier”.]
Accidents happen every day, that part of life
http://www.maldonandburnhamstandard...cision_to_remove_security_fence/?ref=mr&lp=15
[ A HEARTBROKEN daughter whose father died at Mistley Quay has spoken of her shock a security fence could be removed after a High Court decision.
The fence was put up at the quay by Trent Wharfage nine years ago, sparking anger from many residents who set up by Free the Quay campaign.
The group celebrated victory in the High Court earlier this month and the controversial fence could now be taken down.
The High Court said the quay – which is designated as a village green – should be accessible to all. The quay’s owner may still appeal against the decision.
The campaign group is set to hold a victory rally at the Quay on Sunday but Jackie Lester, 70, of Tall Trees, Mile End, Colchester, said the court decision is not a cause for celebration.
Her father Jack Branch, who lived in Harwich Road, Mistley, and worked at Mistley Maltings, died aged 72 at the quay in February 1991.
She said: “My father drowned there because there was no fence. The Health and Safety Executive not only recommended but demanded a fence be put up and that’s what TWL did.
“Before he died he was in a bad state of depression. We had been monitoring his medication but he had spat it out.
“An inquest recorded an open verdict. There was knee-deep snow and it is not known whether he slipped or jumped into the water.
“If there was a fence there at the time he would have had to climb it and that would have been a deterrent - he might have changed his mind.
“If he did slip, then the fence would have prevented him falling into the river.”
Mrs Lester said she received a hostile reception from some who want the fence to be removed.
“I lived in California Road, Mistley, when I was growing up. I was brought up there and I know all the people who attended the public hearing.
“It was quite hostile. People have told me I have no right to an opinion but I’m an Essex County Council taxpayer and so are my family.
“I have campaigned for the fence at the quay. I find it ridiculous that people don’t want a fence here. It’s an industrial area.”
Free the Quay campaigners have welcomed the outcome of the court case. Simon Bullimore, chairman of the group, said he hopes the site’s owner will enter into dialogue with campaigners about “a more suitable barrier”.]
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Ridiculous. There are hundreds of small quays around the country with no fences. Take Wells Next The Sea, you can step off the quay into the harbour, the car park is on the quay so you could drive in, you could fall of the walkway to the Albaross, etc, etc.
Gargleblaster
Well-Known Member
Ramsgate has little signs as you walk down towards the main visitor marina that there is a sharp drop and to be careful. that is quite a nasty drop either into the water or onto rocks and mud depending on the state of the tide. I wonder if any one has felt inclined to jump or fall off there in a snow storm. I hope the signs are sufficient to stop the potential suicides, I would hate to see all our waterside places being fenced with teh ugly inaccessible monstrosity that was at Mistley.
Boulogne sur Mer of course is similar to Ramsgate but there is a bigger drop and nice ringbolts as you walk along to trip over. Once again I would prefer the risk to the obstruction.
Boulogne sur Mer of course is similar to Ramsgate but there is a bigger drop and nice ringbolts as you walk along to trip over. Once again I would prefer the risk to the obstruction.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Oostende was done some 4 yrs ago & it has spoilt the area, where as folk kept away from the edge kids can now (& do ) climb the fence.
In this case it doesnt stop landing unlike Mistley
CLB
Well-Known Member
That doesn't sound like an accident. More a suicide. Why should the general population have to lose a lovely quayside and look at an ugly fence just cos some bloke had had enough. If someone is going to kill themselves, they will find a way to do it, you just simply cannot protect them from themselves.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Er i think thats where i was coming from, it could have been a road barrier to the railway line, bebe these should be manned gates, just in the old daze
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
The train company will be pleased when the fence comes down and people are free to throw themselves from the quay once more.
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
When I was a fresh faced graduate, I worked for British Rail, and I had proper jobs over the 7 years I was in two areas, Plymouth and Reading, and both had mental hospitals backing on to main lines, and each regularly got a suicide 8-12 times a year.
