Nelson shopping bosses snub suicide hotspot safety plan

8:30am Thursday 9th July 2009

By Jon Livesey

SHOPPING centre chiefs have been blasted for refusing to support plans to install extra safety measures at a notorious suicide hotspot.

Police, town hall chiefs and councillors agree that fencing needs to be installed on top of Pendle Rise car park, in Nelson, to prevent people from falling, or jumping from the four-storey town centre building.

Safety experts at Pendle Council have raised half of the £40,000 estimated cost to implement the scheme However, the boss of the firm which manages the shopping centre said he had not been asked for money but described the cost of installing the fencing as “prohibitive.”

He also accused councillors and town hall chiefs of “wasting their money” as he believes people with a desire to commit suicide will always “find a way.”

The detective who led the investigations into the two most recent deaths of people who plunged from the four-storey building said he was “saddened” to hear of the lack of support from retail bosses.

And councillors, who earmarked £10,000 for the scheme from Nelson Committee’s capital budget, described their response as “inhumane.”

Over the last decade there have been about eight people jumping or falling from the building in Holme Street, including two this year.

Geoff Whitehead, Pendle’s community safety manager, said erecting physical barriers would have an “instant effect” in preventing further tragedies.

But Doig Rudling, managing director of Shopshire-based 4D Properties Ltd, which manages the shopping centre, said: “I think if someone wants to commit suicide they will find a way and I don’t think there is anything we can do to stop them.

“I honestly think they are wasting their money. Even if you put grids all the way around, someone will drive a car straight through it.”

Mr Rudling added: “Nobody has asked us for anything and we did not know they were going to spend money doing anything.

“We’re very sorry for the families left behind and if there is anything we can do we will look at it, but nobody has come to the landlord and said what they want to do.

"It was mentioned about fencing when it happened, but as I said then, the cost is going to be prohibitive.”

Following the death of Andrew Holdsworth, 44, who fell from the car park in April, two meetings were arranged between police, councillors, and representatives of Pendle Rise to discuss the problem.

However, retail bosses sent the shopping centre’s caretaker to the first and then did not attend the second one at all, Nelson Committee was told.

He added: “The police are in the business of saving lives and I believe we can make a difference by putting wire mesh up.

"Indeed, if someone is determined enough they will find a way, but if someone is blocked by wire mesh it might make them step back and reconsider.”

Coun Iqbal, Labour Leader in Pendle, described the car park owners’ response as “deplorable and inhumane.”

He said: “Ideally we would like them to pay for the whole scheme, but if not then at least 50 per cent.”

Coun Nadeem Ahmed added: “We do not feel it is a waste of money. If this action saves just one life then it’s money well spent.”

Jay Stansfield, lead singer in Nelson band Say, had a friend who committed suicide by jumping from the building around eight years ago.

Agencies and organisations including the Samaritans, NHS East Lancashire, and Pendle Council, are working towards installing the fencing.

Pauline Hirons, of the Samaritans said they have posters in place on every level of the multi-storey car park.

A meeting is scheduled to take place between the partners and shopping centre bosses on Friday.

Anyone experiencing despair, distress or suicidal feelings should call 08457 909090.