Dear Caroline, I refer to your report of the 24 May 2019. Please accept our sincere apologies for not replying and confirming our actions following the recommendations in the Coroner's Regulation 28 Report. This was due to an administrative oversight although we can confirm that your report itself was considered and actioned at the time. Our response is now enclosed. Regulation 28 Response Letter: Mr Barry Clow Deceased Mr Ray Westlake Deceased Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths We write in response to your Regulation 28 report dated 24 th May 2019 following inquests into the deaths of the above named individuals. Although Gloucestershire County Council were not an Interested Party at the inquests and were not required to attend to give any evidence we understand from your report that the inquests received some evidence that the relevant stretch of the A424 had been noted to flood on occasion. Prior to receipt of your report, Gloucestershire County Council was not aware that flooding was as an issue at that location which was already furnished with roadside 'grips' to aid drainage. We had not been informed of any incidents of flooding at that location by motorists or residents and have not received any reports of flooding since. In the 10 years prior to 9/12/18, Gloucestershire County Council had received only one report of a "slight" road traffic accident on 28 July 2018 that involved some surface water in the general vicinity of where the 9/12/18 incident took place. This incident followed what was described as a "dramatic rain storm" that led to the temporary presence of surface water on the highway. Save for this single incident, Gloucestershire County Council are unaware of any traffic collisions involving surface water at this site prior to or following the incident on 9 th December 2018. The contents of your Regulation 28 Report were the first and only suggestion we have received as to flooding or drainage being an issue. Our records relating to the 9 th December 2018 incident record that this took place in heavy rain and high winds in very wet conditions with surface water on the highway.

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A' 9,.Q~f-~~t~rshire (O Ul'll'Y CO UNCIL Highways Notwithstanding that the sad circumstances leading to the deaths of Mr Clow and Mr Westlake appears to have arisen following the presence of surface water on the highway following a period of very heavy rainfall, the Council elected to exercise a statutory power to erect flood warning signs at the site on the 29th July 2019 in response to the information provided to us in your Regulation 28 Report. I trust the above is of assistance to you. Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.