Wednesday, March 19, 2014 9:10 AM
Subject: DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL INQUEST TO DEATH OF ROUGH SLEEPER 2012
Dear Mr Bradshaw MP
The inquest yesterday returned a verdict of accidental death regarding the unfortunate death of the rough sleeper Miss Conroy back in 2012 on the Inner Bypass.
Could this death have been avoided? I rather suspect it could have been avoided if the DCC had carried out their due diligence to inspect mature trees along with their Policy and Procedures and Legal Requirements.
This tree was over 300 years old; therefore DCC records should hold the last inspection date of this particular tree but unfortunately the DCC won’t release such information to me as they consider all FOIA requests from Dransfield as vexatious.
I call upon my MP to submit a FOIA request to the DCC for details on this specific tree. I pride myself on being very observant and there are a number of trees and walls in and around Exeter which look as though they are on their last legs. Surely, prevention is better than cure. Hence, I call upon my MP to write to the DCC seeking assurance they are compliant with legal requirements.
There have been a number of high profile wall collapses in Exeter (and wind turbines) e.g St Davids Hill, Exeter Football Club, Dawlish Warren and whilst I accept Mother Nature has been involved with all examples, I hold serious doubts if preventative medicine had been taken or even prescribed.
This good fortune and good luck cannot be expected to continue indefinitely. Polite reminder (20th time for HSE report on collapsed wind turbines).
With thanks
Yours sincerely
Alan M Dransfield
