PFD report

Scott Bradley Davies · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 1 Oct 2024•Manchester South

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
2

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
7

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Poor visibility of a locked steel barrier across a legitimate bicycle and emergency-services route
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.6

  1. Action

    Encourage good practice in highway maintenance through the Well-managed Highway Infrastructure code and related channels.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2024.
  2. Action

    Permanently affix reflective panels and reflective tape to comparable barriers at remaining borough locations.

    Stated by Stockport Borough CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2024.
  3. Action

    Audit surrounding-area lighting for tree obstruction and compliance with BS 5489 standards.

    Stated by Stockport Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2024.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.3

  1. Position

    Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, as highway authority, is responsible for managing traffic and ensuring local road infrastructure is fit for purpose.

    Stated by Department for TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Poor visibility of a locked steel barrier across a legitimate bicycle and emergency-services route

Wider context from the report

“The section of road bisecting Alexandra Park, known as Cheadle Old Road Edgeley, is a legitimate right of way for bicycles and emergency services vehicles yet there is a matt black locked steel barrier that is hard to see at dusk and in the dark which could result in serious injury or death if struck by an oncoming legitimate user of that thoroughfare. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Encourage good practice in highway maintenance through the Well-managed Highway Infrastructure code and related channels.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We have provided guidance on traffic management for local authorities in various publications, including the Traffic Signs Manual, as well as a variety of Traffic Advisory Leaflets and Local Transport Notes. These stress the importance of road safety when designing and installing road infrastructure. This guidance is all free to download from the Department’s website. The Department also encourages good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as Well-managed Highway Infrastructure - A Code of Practice, published by the UK Roads Leadership Group. This publication provides advice to local highway authorities on a range of issues, including street lighting.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 2 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Permanently affix reflective panels and reflective tape to comparable barriers at remaining borough locations.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, upon considering the circumstances of Mr Davies accident and subsequent death and your report, Stockport Council has taken action to improve the visibility of barriers within parks by permanently affixing reflective panels and adding reflective tape to the uprights to all barriers of this nature situated in similar positions across the borough. This work has already been completed in Alexandra Park as of 21st November 2024. The remaining work in the other locations will be completed by 31st March 2025.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Audit surrounding-area lighting for tree obstruction and compliance with BS 5489 standards.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To further ensure that we are maximising visibility of the barriers after dusk we are also auditing the lighting in surrounding areas to ensure they are not impeded by tree growth and that the levels are in accordance with BS:5489 lighting standards. Where remedial work is required, this will be completed by 31st March 2025.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Upgrade Cheadle Old Road lighting through the LED lighting replacement programme.

Verbatim wording from the response

“An audit of the trees in the vicinity of the Alexandra Park barrier was carried out on 21st November 2024 and it was determined that no arboriculture work was needed at that time. The lighting on Cheadle Old Road was upgraded in 2019 as part of the ongoing LED lighting replacement programme, and we can confirm that the luminescence report notes it is compliant with lighting class P5 to BS5489.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Permanently affix reflective panels and reflective tape to barriers in Alexandra Park.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, upon considering the circumstances of Mr Davies accident and subsequent death and your report, Stockport Council has taken action to improve the visibility of barriers within parks by permanently affixing reflective panels and adding reflective tape to the uprights to all barriers of this nature situated in similar positions across the borough. This work has already been completed in Alexandra Park as of 21st November 2024. The remaining work in the other locations will be completed by 31st March 2025.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Audit trees near the Alexandra Park barrier to determine whether arboricultural work is needed.

Verbatim wording from the response

“An audit of the trees in the vicinity of the Alexandra Park barrier was carried out on 21st November 2024 and it was determined that no arboriculture work was needed at that time. The lighting on Cheadle Old Road was upgraded in 2019 as part of the ongoing LED lighting replacement programme, and we can confirm that the luminescence report notes it is compliant with lighting class P5 to BS5489.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, as highway authority, is responsible for managing traffic and ensuring local road infrastructure is fit for purpose.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I note your concerns regarding the risk that the barrier poses to road users. However, I should clarify that this is not a matter for the Department as it is the highway authority, in this case Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, which is responsible for how traffic is managed on its roads, including rights of way. As with all local roads, it is for the Council to ensure that any infrastructure it installs on its network, including barriers and similar street furniture, is fit for purpose. It is also responsible for maintaining any infrastructure once installed.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Managing barrier visibility and lighting on local roads is outside central government’s remit.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I note your concerns regarding the risk that the barrier poses to road users. However, I should clarify that this is not a matter for the Department as it is the highway authority, in this case Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, which is responsible for how traffic is managed on its roads, including rights of way. As with all local roads, it is for the Council to ensure that any infrastructure it installs on its network, including barriers and similar street furniture, is fit for purpose. It is also responsible for maintaining any infrastructure once installed.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing tree management and compliant Cheadle Old Road lighting require no further remedial work at Alexandra Park.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To further ensure that we are maximising visibility of the barriers after dusk we are also auditing the lighting in surrounding areas to ensure they are not impeded by tree growth and that the levels are in accordance with BS:5489 lighting standards. Where remedial work is required, this will be completed by 31st March 2025.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Provide traffic-management guidance stressing road safety when designing and installing road infrastructure.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2024.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.2

  1. 1

    The barriers remain justified because unrestricted cyclist access would pose a sufficient risk to pedestrians using Alexandra Park.

    Stated by Stockport Borough CouncilDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
  2. 2

    Existing direct contact between emergency services and the council control room, with urgent council attendance where needed, provides access through closed barriers.

    Stated by Stockport Borough CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide traffic-management guidance stressing road safety when designing and installing road infrastructure.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We have provided guidance on traffic management for local authorities in various publications, including the Traffic Signs Manual, as well as a variety of Traffic Advisory Leaflets and Local Transport Notes. These stress the importance of road safety when designing and installing road infrastructure. This guidance is all free to download from the Department’s website. The Department also encourages good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as Well-managed Highway Infrastructure - A Code of Practice, published by the UK Roads Leadership Group. This publication provides advice to local highway authorities on a range of issues, including street lighting.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 2 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

The barriers remain justified because unrestricted cyclist access would pose a sufficient risk to pedestrians using Alexandra Park.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The section of road bisecting Alexandra Park, known as Cheadle Old Road, Edgeley, is a legitimate right of way for bicycles and emergency services vehicles. The reason for the installation of a barrier relates to the fact that this park is an area widely used by pedestrians, in particular, families who use the play equipment and green space available. It was considered that the risk posed to pedestrians by cyclists entering the park unhindered was sufficient to justify the installation of such barriers.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 1 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing direct contact between emergency services and the council control room, with urgent council attendance where needed, provides access through closed barriers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“If Emergency services require access to a location with a closed barrier, they have direct contact to the council control room and vice versa. Where needed the council will attend urgently to ensure that access is provided.”

Source location

Response from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Page 2 · response
Published 1 October 2024

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026