Traffic chaos descended upon both sides of the Mersey on Tuesday when both the Wallasey and Birkenhead tunnels were closed after two separate incidents occured simultaneously.
A fire on New Chester Road in Birkenhead and an apparent suicide attempt near the entrance of the Kingsway tunnel in Wallasey were the cause of the traffic gridlock which lasted for over three hours.
At 3.30pm fire services were called to the blaze at Staniford Ltd which is thought to have been caused through an electrical fault.
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The hazardous material team, who deal with chemical incidents, also attended after re-conditioned industrial drums and a large quantity of plastic containers were alight.
It took ten fire crews an hour and a half to dampen down the blaze.
The Kingsway tunnel was then closed after reports were received that a man had fallen from the Wheatland Lane bridge at 4.45pm. He suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
The man has not yet been formally identified. He is decribed as being in his late 20s or early 30s, 5'10" with dark hair, and was wearing grey track suit bottoms, Reebok trainers and a short sleeved grey track suit top.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 709 6010.
When is someone going to take responsibility and increase the height of the fencing on these bridges?
Suicides will happen unless steps are taken to prevent people doing it from these places. In Scarborough they have the valley bridge which was a notorious suicide spot and in the end they put large fences up that curved inwards at the top and there are no suicides on that bridge any more.
I get very worried every time I drive under those bridges these days. A body falling from that height could kill me and any passengers I might be carrying.
When is someone going to take responsibility and increase the height of the fencing on these bridges?
Suicides will happen unless steps are taken to prevent people doing it from these places. In Scarborough they have the valley bridge which was a notorious suicide spot and in the end they put large fences up that curved inwards at the top and there are no suicides on that bridge any more.
I get very worried every time I drive under those bridges these days. A body falling from that height could kill me and any passengers I might be carrying.
That bridge over the motorway is far too exposed & open to people planning to jump or drop objects onto cars travelling below. It is very irresponsibible, whomever is responsible for the bridge & pathway not to have high mesh fencing to protect the motorway and deter potential jumpers.
That bridge over the motorway is far too exposed & open to people planning to jump or drop objects onto cars travelling below. It is very irresponsibible, whomever is responsible for the bridge & pathway not to have high mesh fencing to protect the motorway and deter potential jumpers.
Posted by: Pierre Durand, wirral on 4:24pm Wed 7 May 08
I was stuck on Kelvin road and saw the body. There was families standing around on the bridge with young children like they were at the zoo, starring. Very sick.
I was stuck on Kelvin road and saw the body. There was families standing around on the bridge with young children like they were at the zoo, starring. Very sick.
Helen, strong wire mesh is a proven deterrant on other motorway overpasses, in other area. Of course you can also add a CCTV camera directly connected to an Emergency Services control room display, which they have in Humberside, Bristol, Yorkshire & Devon?
Helen, strong wire mesh is a proven deterrant on other motorway overpasses, in other area. Of course you can also add a CCTV camera directly connected to an Emergency Services control room display, which they have in Humberside, Bristol, Yorkshire & Devon?
I was on the other side of the tunnel slowly driving through, with police escort about 20 minutes after this is meant to have happened. The body was covered and hidden from the side, thank God. The biggest problem, the horrible people who brought their children to WATCH from above. Its a disgrace!
I was on the other side of the tunnel slowly driving through, with police escort about 20 minutes after this is meant to have happened. The body was covered and hidden from the side, thank God. The biggest problem, the horrible people who brought their children to WATCH from above. Its a disgrace!
re the chaos yesterday, a fire and a death,while this is real,life and sad as it seems, lets stop and think all the earlier comments regarding higher fencing, should we not express and vent this to our local councillors, you know the ones we voted for last week,oh yes i didnt see any door to door going on but yes ah a note in my mailbox saying vote labour, if only they knew...
re the chaos yesterday, a fire and a death,while this is real,life and sad as it seems, lets stop and think all the earlier comments regarding higher fencing, should we not express and vent this to our local councillors, you know the ones we voted for last week,oh yes i didnt see any door to door going on but yes ah a note in my mailbox saying vote labour, if only they knew...
Posted by: fish5133, birkenhead on 9:50pm Wed 7 May 08
Was there today lollipoping and had heart in mouth watching youngsters leaning over railings to look below. Id go for higher meshrailings if only to stop kids leaning over
Was there today lollipoping and had heart in mouth watching youngsters leaning over railings to look below. Id go for higher meshrailings if only to stop kids leaning over
[quote][bold]Helen[/bold] wrote:
Get real people, if someone suicidal wants to jump off something a bit of mesh is not going to stop them! [/quote] Who said anything about mesh? I was talking about proper railings to a decent height that curve inwards at the top.
True if people want to kill themselves then they will do it. I am more concerned with them taking some innocent with them.
Just take the pills with a bottle of booze if you must.
Helen wrote:
Get real people, if someone suicidal wants to jump off something a bit of mesh is not going to stop them!
Who said anything about mesh? I was talking about proper railings to a decent height that curve inwards at the top.
True if people want to kill themselves then they will do it. I am more concerned with them taking some innocent with them.
Just take the pills with a bottle of booze if you must.
Posted by: robert, wallasey on 6:50pm Thu 8 May 08
its very sad. a man was so unhappy he decided to end his life! i do believe the railings should be changed. i often see kids on the bridge and i worry that they will throw things as people drive under it.
its very sad. a man was so unhappy he decided to end his life! i do believe the railings should be changed. i often see kids on the bridge and i worry that they will throw things as people drive under it.
It is a tradgedy when a person decides to end their life.It is also very tragic for those people that witness the event and the aftermath that follows.As regards this said bridge higher fencing can only offer a futher deterent to the potential suicider.I use this section of tunnel road frequently and dread it, because of it's history of suicides and the throwing of missiles.I can and do change my route frequently.My sympathies lie with the suicide's family and those people that witnessed this horrific event.
It is a tradgedy when a person decides to end their life.It is also very tragic for those people that witness the event and the aftermath that follows.As regards this said bridge higher fencing can only offer a futher deterent to the potential suicider.I use this section of tunnel road frequently and dread it, because of it's history of suicides and the throwing of missiles.I can and do change my route frequently.My sympathies lie with the suicide's family and those people that witnessed this horrific event.
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