Anti-suicide fence for car park’s roof

7:26am Thursday 24th April 2008

FENCING has been put up around the top of the Victoria shopping centre car park to stop people trying to commit suicide.

The new measure is part of the £21million redevelopment scheme of the centre and the car park by Delamere Estates.

Bill Harkness, chief executive of Delamere, said: "It was put up to further ensure public safety.

"The main purposes being to deter suicides and to prevent any objects being thrown on to the glass roof. Customer safety has always been at the heart of the rejuvenation of the Victoria shopping centre.

"The new fencing is just a small part of the huge changes we have seen there over the past two years, which has now transformed it into an attractive shopping area for the people of Southend to enjoy."

Many people have fallen to their deaths from the centre's car park over the years.