Elsie Mary MURPHY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 19 May 2023•Cumbria

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
1

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

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. Failure to prevent water pooling on the path at the base of the steps
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate drainage control of hazardous surface water on public routes

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. Cumberland Council

    Install additional drainage to prevent standing water in the area.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.2

  1. Cumberland Council

    United Utilities is responsible for the defective water and sewerage systems contributing to standing water and has repaired and is monitoring them.

    Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
  2. Cumberland Council

    The Council does not inspect or maintain the land, paths or steps because they are not Council structures or areas within its inspection responsibility.

    Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.

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

Failure to prevent water pooling on the path at the base of the steps

Wider context from the report

“(1) Evidence has heard that a puddle always forms at this location in wet weather and that people have slipped here in the past. Pictures taken on the evening Elsie fell were accepted in evidence and are attached. It seems that a drain or soak away from under Ewanrigg Road discharges down the grassy bank to the left of the steps looking up them and pools on the path. There is a drain on the right hand side of the path a few feet from the base of the steps but water does not seem to reach it. I am concerned that if this issue is not addressed by some remedial work further accidents will occur ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate drainage control of hazardous surface water on public routes.

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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

Install additional drainage to prevent standing water in the area.

Verbatim wording from the response

“With this in mind, the Highways Department had commenced work to install additional drainage in this area to further prevent standing water. Subsequent to that work commencing, information was received from United Utilities and it would appear that their water/sewerage systems may have been defective and contributed to the standing water. United Utilities have confirmed it has now been repaired and is currently being monitored by them. Should the problem reappear, we will take further action as required.”

Source location

Response from Cumberland Council
Page 2 · response
Published 13 June 2023

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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

United Utilities is responsible for the defective water and sewerage systems contributing to standing water and has repaired and is monitoring them.

Verbatim wording from the response

“With this in mind, the Highways Department had commenced work to install additional drainage in this area to further prevent standing water. Subsequent to that work commencing, information was received from United Utilities and it would appear that their water/sewerage systems may have been defective and contributed to the standing water. United Utilities have confirmed it has now been repaired and is currently being monitored by them. Should the problem reappear, we will take further action as required.”

Source location

Response from Cumberland Council
Page 2 · response
Published 13 June 2023

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 Council does not inspect or maintain the land, paths or steps because they are not Council structures or areas within its inspection responsibility.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• None of the area in or around the immediate area of the incident is inspected by Cumberland Council as Highway Authority.”

Source location

Response from Cumberland Council
Page 1 · response
Published 13 June 2023

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