- Green campaigner Tricia Cowdrey is urging the Council to set a clear timeline for the removal of the Queensway pedestrian bridge after recent suicide attempts, with concerns about ongoing fatalities since 2020.
- Despite being scheduled for removal in 2023, the bridge remains in place, with the Council citing the need for a large crane to dismantle it.
- Cllr Richard Longstaff stresses that the issue reflects broader government failings and calls for investment in long-term support services, as the Green Party demands better funding for mental health and public health services.
Tricia Cowdrey, a local Green campaigner, is urging the Council to set a clear timeline for the removal of the pedestrian bridge over the Queensway following another recent suicide attempt.
Earlier this year, an off-duty officer intervened to help a woman to safety after she was seen climbing onto the handrail of the disused bridge.
The structure, originally scheduled for removal by the end of 2023, remains in place. Last July, the Council stated that a large crane would be needed to dismantle it, but no further progress has been made.
Despite the bridge being closed, suicide attempts continue, Since 2021, I have supported the campaign to have this bridge removed. Lives have already been lost at this site and it remains a place of high risk, as we have recently seen.
Each loss is a tragedy for families and friends. We must act to protect vulnerable residents. I hope the Leader of the Council, Daniel Cowen, can finally provide a timeframe for its removal.
Tricia Cowdrey
Cllr Richard Longstaff echoed her concerns. “It is incredibly sad to see people reach a point where they feel they can’t go on. This is the result of failings by successive Governments. Instead of blame and culture wars, we need to come together and provide long-term investment in support services.”
The Green Party has linked the crisis to years of underinvestment in mental health services and widening inequalities driven by austerity. It is calling on the Government to commit to sustained funding for public health services.
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