Chris Ames 10 May 2024

Council faces court over busway deaths

Council faces court over busway deaths image
Image: Stephen Richard McAdam / Shutterstock.com.

Cambridgeshire County Council has been served a court summons over three fatalities in separate incidents on its troubled guided busway.

The prosecution relates to the deaths of Jennifer Taylor, Steve Moir and Kathleen Pitts on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway between 2015 and 2021.

The council confirmed that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has served it prosecution summonses and that a court hearing date has been set.

It added that in May 2023 the HSE had informed it of its intention to start legal proceedings following an investigation.

In a statement, the council said: ‘We continue to extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of Jennifer Taylor, Steven Moir and Kathleen Pitts.

‘Safety on the busway is and remains a priority for the county council and the operators that use the busway. Since its opening in 2011, the guided busway has seen 33 million passenger journeys, the number of bus services has more than doubled, and during that time the council has worked with experts and made regular safety enhancements.

‘We will now consider the evidence presented against us, the offences listed in the summonses and prepare for the first hearing date. For legal reasons it would not be appropriate to comment further in light of the decision taken by the HSE.’

The troubled busway project has been beset by difficulties since its completion two years late in 2011 at a cost of £152m.

In 2013 Cambridgeshire accepted a £33m payout from contractor BAM Nuttall to settle a dispute over the construction cost. The original price was £83.9m.

However, further inspections raised concerns of inherent design flaws, and in 2020 the council launched a new legal claim against BAM for the cost of repairs to alleged defects.

The two parties agreed a further, confidential settlement in 2023.

This article was originally published by Transport Network.

Black hole spending review image

Black hole spending review

Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on what the Spending Review means for local government.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Elections Officer

Hyndburn Borough Council
£27,711 – £30,060 per annum
Are you an organised and detail-oriented professional with a passion for democracy? Accrington, Lancashire
Recuriter: Hyndburn Borough Council

Economic Development Officer

Hyndburn Borough Council
£36,124 – 37,938 per annum
Hyndburn is an attractive area set in the heart of Pennine Lancashire, within easy reach of Manchester, the lakes and the Coast. Accrington, Lancashire
Recuriter: Hyndburn Borough Council

Public Health Officer

North Yorkshire Council
£41,511 - £45,718 per annum
We are seeking to recruit a Public Health Officer to join our supportive and high achieving public health team at North Yorkshire Council. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Communications Team Leader

Mansfield District Council
£38,626 - £42,708 per annum (pay award pending)
We're looking for a talented Communications Team Leader Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Principal Housing Enforcement Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 per annum
We are looking for two experienced housing professionals with the ability to effectively plan and manage a high-volume and complex housing enforcement Seaham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner