Dear Re: Inquest into the death of Alasdair Neal PENNY 16th and 17th March 2015-05-08 write in response to your formal report under Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths. The concern around the bridge was raised in 2013 through the East Grinstead Neighbourhood Joint Action Group (NJAG). This was following the suicide of William Rayner in February 2011 and a further incident in which a member of the public was pulled back from the wrong side of the bridge in June 2013. The group consisted of representatives from the local police team; town council and West County Council (WSCC). Over the period between June 2013 and the suicide of Alasdair Penny, numerous recommendations were made by the NJAG which included Raising the parapets of the bridge_ Consideration of a designated zone for memorial flowers_ Cut back the vegetation on the banks to reveal the true nature of the Implementation of signposting for Samaritans etc on the bridge No stopping on Bridge signs_ Patrol activity from the local EG Street Pastors Continued Police patrols of the area contld Police Headquarters Malling House Church Lane Lewes East Sussex BN7 2DZ Telephone 101 Fax (01273) 404263 Website; http / {www sussex police uk e-mail: chief constable@sussex pnn:police.uk Reeests May Sir , Sussex drop.

The NJAG group was able to implement 6 Samaritans signs on the bridge which are still currently in place and the Street Pastors continue to patrol the bridge, as do the local police team: The raising of the parapets_ which was the partners preferred recommendation; was referred to WSCC and was discussed at the County Local Committee meeting in late 2014_ WSCC reported that the vegetation could not be cut back and a report was being prepared as to the reasons why_ The potential alterations to the bridge are being managed by WSCC and an update meeting is planned between Peter Lawrence (WSCC) , Julie Holden (EGTC) and PS Graeme Prentice (Sussex Police) on the 2Oth May 2015

Dear Madam Responseof_West Sussex County Council_to_the requlation 28 Report to Prevent Future_Deaths issued by M 1 C Burgess_ Assistant Coroner dated 1Z March 2015_following an inquest_into_ the death of_Alasdair Neal Penny: I am with regard to the actions we propose to take following receipt of your report into the death of Mr Alasdair Neil Penny as a result of a fall from the College Lane Bridge, East Grinstead. was very sorry to read of the events that led to the death of Mr Penny and wish to extend my sympathies to his family. understand Mr Penny was suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia, but was refusing to take his medication: In the days leading up to his death he had been seen at the bridge on number of occasions, where his odd behaviour led members of the public to report him to the police. On the day before his death he was picked up by the police from the bridge and returned to his parents' home address, though checks made then did not reveal his mental health problems_ You raise the following two matters of concern. The bridge has been the site of a previous suicide in 2011 The height of the railings at the back edge of the footways that bound the bridge is such that can be quite easily mounted and would not deter spontaneous jumper, The bridge was the location of previous suicide in 2011. It is very likely Mr Penny knew Mr Raynor, had both attended the same secondary school, possibly in the same year group. We are not aware of any other similar events prior to Mr Raynor's death in 2011 The College Lane road bridge was constructed to modern design standards, with 1m high parapets conforming to B56779 part Highway Parapets for Bridges and other Structures. This is the national standard and is applied across the whole of West Sussex for road bridges carrying carriageway and adjacent footways. However , we understand your concerns that this standard height is Reewowep writing they They

unlikely to inhibit a deliberate action to climb over the parapet and jump from the bridge: While we would caution that it is unlikely that any engineering solution would be 100% effective we be investigating whether it is technically feasible to increase the height of the current parapet to deter as far as practicable similar events occurring in the future. If an appropriate solution can be determined we intended to undertake the alterations within this financial year, subject to any design and programming constraints If an appropriate technical solution cannot be realised will write to you explaining the reasons why_ We also be raising the issue with other partners through the East Grinstead Neighbourhood Joint Action Group (NJAG) to see if there is any further appropriate preventative work that can be initiated from community perspective including the potential of additional work with vulnerable young people through our Health Services. Previously the East Grinstead NJAG was responsible for arranging the current Samaritans signs and for organising for the local Street Pastors to make the bridge part of their regular patrols.