Detonator concerns at Leigh rail depot after boy’s injury (From Echo)
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Detonator concerns at Leigh rail depot after boy’s injury
3:35pm Wednesday 15th August 2012 in News
Mike King – astonished detonators can be easily accessed
CONCERNS have been raised over security at a rail depot where a 15-year-old boy was blinded by an explosive detonator he found there.
Residents and councillors were alarmed to learn youths regularly got into the Network Rail depot – near a popular skatepark – through a gap in the fence behind Leigh station.
They have questioned how the teenager gained access so easily to the detonators – used to warn train drivers of work on the line.
Caroline Parker, chairman of Leigh Town Council’s transport and highways committee and member of its youth facilities working party, said: “It’s absolutely tragic.
“Obviously any explosive, and anything that would prove to be a danger to life, should be locked up.
“We were totally unaware anything like that was kept at the back of the park.”
The boy, who needed emergency surgery after he and two friends threw the detonators onto a bonfire, was in Southend Hospital in a stable condition yesterday. He has lost the sight in his right eye.
Two 17-year-olds arrested on suspicion of theft in connection with the incident have now been released on police bail.
Youths who use the skate park said they removed two fence struts and regularly got in through the gap, which was hastily repaired on Sunday.
Pat Holden, chairman of Leigh Town Council, said youngsters there told her they actually had a “den” on the depot site.
She said a woman claiming to be the injured boy’s mother called her to say the teenagers found the detonators in a skip on the site.
Mrs Holden said: “Why wasn’t something done about the hole in the fence? “It doesn’t sound terribly good.”
The fence was repaired two years ago, but the struts had been removed again since.
Mike King, of nearby Marine Parade, said: “I’m just astonished they kept these detonators somewhere they can be relatively easily accessed.
“They should be in a building under a lock and key.”
Jordan Martin, 19, whose family owns the nearby Leigh Golf Driving Range, said: “It’s ridiculous. “Doesn’t anyone check anything?”
Tony Cox, Southend councillor responsible for public protection and transport, said: “Obviously it’s concerning if there are gaps in the fence and the appropriate bodies will take action to make it as secure as possible.”
However Network Rail declined to comment in case it jeopardised an investigation by the British Transport Police.
Comments(46)
shoebury52
says...
3:55pm Wed 15 Aug 12
perini wrote:At last someone speaks sense about this. He was old enough to know what he was doing was wrong, I hope the police now go calling at his door to charge him with theft and tresspassing. The fence is there for a reason not for them to rip apart my 6yr old knows not to play on railway lines so a 15yr old should to.
Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.
Eric the Red
says...
4:00pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Brunning999
says...
4:09pm Wed 15 Aug 12
It is right to expect under the Explosives Act to assume that these detonators are adequately secured firstly in a metal box secured to the building and secondly within a secure building and failure to store within the requirements of the Act must be and is an offence.
I also expect that at the boys age they should by now have grown up enough to assume responsibility for their own safety, and please leave out the use of the term children at their ages they are old enough to know right from wrong.
If the detonators were as described insecure then Network Rail must be punished within the Law, and the boys might possibly have grounds to sue for compensation.
If the boys entered a build illegally, stole property then acted negligently then 'tough shy t' a tough lesson to learn.
And please spare me the mummy's pass the blame culture typical in this modern world.
Audioman
says...
4:15pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Hope the courts deal with them all
it's their own fault.
Audioman
says...
4:15pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Hope the courts deal with them all
it's their own fault.
jolllyboy
says...
4:26pm Wed 15 Aug 12
It was theft.
It was breaking and entering
Why should their names be withheld
crunch29
says...
4:36pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Maybe if the boys didn't create the hole in the fence in the first place it wouldn't of had to be repaired. So stupid that they are pointing fingers at Network Rail Depot when the boys shouldn't have been in there in the first place.
rjsizzler
says...
4:44pm Wed 15 Aug 12
It isn't like the door was wide open - they broken in and it's still not their fault!!!
Eric Whim
says...
4:58pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Kentish Alex
says...
5:16pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Being a lad means taking risks and learning how to judge risk is part of growing up. This time it went tragically wrong. These devices could have caused mayhem in hands more malicious than these boys.
I hope, as they say, "lessons will be learned" to prevent such accidents again. I also hope he recovers and gets his sight back for, there but the grace of God, have been most teenagers.
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
5:26pm Wed 15 Aug 12
perini wrote:Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.
Brunning999
says...
5:42pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Hello lefty hope you are well, I bet you was the type that used to let all the tyres down in the cycle racks at school.
perini wrote:Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.
Ps we didn't even need to use padlocks then.
howironic
says...
5:50pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Kentish Alex wrote:And what right exactly did they have to put someone else's property on the fire to begin with?
No the kids should not have been there but NORMAL boys do that sort of thing. I did, sneaking into Shoebury Garrison via the beach some 30 years ago and climbing around half built houses and I come from a “nice” family, not a sink estate. Yes, the lad was a fool to put something with the word "Explosive" on it onto a fire. However, did the lad really think that something quite so dangerous would have been left laying about? Elf and Safety is so over used that it has become meaningless and real risks are hard to tell from theoretic ones unless you are in the know. Kids cant buy Christmas Crackers for example as they are "explosives".
Being a lad means taking risks and learning how to judge risk is part of growing up. This time it went tragically wrong. These devices could have caused mayhem in hands more malicious than these boys.
I hope, as they say, "lessons will be learned" to prevent such accidents again. I also hope he recovers and gets his sight back for, there but the grace of God, have been most teenagers.
Trainman
says...
5:57pm Wed 15 Aug 12
All the finger pointing, and nit picking will NOT solve what happened.
bob7
says...
6:35pm Wed 15 Aug 12
boozybex
says...
6:51pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Russ13
says...
7:03pm Wed 15 Aug 12
It's quite simple really, if you're somewhere you shouldn't be and/or doing something you shouldn't be doing and get hurt in the process..... tough luck!
Soouthchurch59
says...
7:05pm Wed 15 Aug 12
EssexBoy1968
says...
7:15pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:I'm sure many people, myself included, did many things wrong when younger. However, I would be willing to bet that most of us didn't trespass in railway maintenance depots, commit theft or start fires on wasteland.
perini wrote: Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
Brunning999
says...
7:22pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:At least I have actually been charged and thrown in the glass house in Osnabruk whilst serving my country stopping the spread of your commy propaganda and in case you don't yet get it actually we won, the comrades gave up.
Brunning999 wrote:And you're another one. Always pontificating at others with your far-right fascist ideologies, you're more full of it than perini. Did no-one ever tell you not to throw stones when you live in a glass house?
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Hello lefty hope you are well, I bet you was the type that used to let all the tyres down in the cycle racks at school.
perini wrote:Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.
Ps we didn't even need to use padlocks then.
And yes I do understand the mindset of an old Commy believing there is always an excuse for crime and anyone that speaks out about criminals and illegal immigrant criminals must be a Fascist.
Never mind your old mates like Bob Crow are starting up another Club for you to join soon.
firedog
says...
7:28pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Sean4u
says...
8:08pm Wed 15 Aug 12
http://www.hse.gov.u
k/explosives/licensi
ng/storage/schedule-
1.htm
That's a life-changing injury for the boy, but I think his emotional well-being may be best served by accepting that it was nobody's fault but his own.
pendulum
says...
8:57pm Wed 15 Aug 12
asbo uncut
says...
9:21pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:take off the clown wig and the red nose for just a minute. my sides are split already
Brunning999 wrote:And you're another one. Always pontificating at others with your far-right fascist ideologies, you're more full of it than perini. Did no-one ever tell you not to throw stones when you live in a glass house?
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Hello lefty hope you are well, I bet you was the type that used to let all the tyres down in the cycle racks at school.
perini wrote:Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.
Ps we didn't even need to use padlocks then.
leigh resident
says...
9:31pm Wed 15 Aug 12
asbo uncut
says...
9:48pm Wed 15 Aug 12
leigh resident wrote:you're calling this child "mate" and you are the parent of this boy's friend. maybe parents need to stop being "mates" to their kids and focus on being parents.
Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that. When you are young you don't think about consequences that comes with maturity which 15yearold boys don't have my heart goes out to him and his family , my son goes to the same school and I can confirm he is a lovely kid not a troublemaker not a yob not an intimidating gangmember just a typical teen that made a mistake get better soon mate x
Horace Wimpole
says...
9:50pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Some of us, i.e. those who have actually lived rather than spending our years as armchair warriors on the internet, have indeed "been there".
I feel sorry for the lad. But on the other hand, he's 15. He knows better. He dicked around, and it didn't work out for him. These things happen. The last thing I would be doing is seeking to lay blame. Better to take medicine (bitter as it is), and have others learn accordingly.
asbo uncut
says...
9:58pm Wed 15 Aug 12
Horace Wimpole wrote:horace, a rare moment of clarity from your keyboard. make that a rare moment from your keyboard
{quote}Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that{quote}
Some of us, i.e. those who have actually lived rather than spending our years as armchair warriors on the internet, have indeed "been there".
I feel sorry for the lad. But on the other hand, he's 15. He knows better. He dicked around, and it didn't work out for him. These things happen. The last thing I would be doing is seeking to lay blame. Better to take medicine (bitter as it is), and have others learn accordingly.
rjsizzler
says...
9:16am Thu 16 Aug 12
leigh resident wrote:I have a lot of sympathy for his situation; he made a mistake and is going to have to live with the consequences.
Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that. When you are young you don't think about consequences that comes with maturity which 15yearold boys don't have my heart goes out to him and his family , my son goes to the same school and I can confirm he is a lovely kid not a troublemaker not a yob not an intimidating gangmember just a typical teen that made a mistake get better soon mate x
The main crux of what people have the issues with is that lots of people such as the councillor and parents are blaming anyone but the lad who made the mistake.
Horace Wimpole
says...
10:07am Thu 16 Aug 12
ks, your approval means so much.
perini
says...
10:31am Thu 16 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Lefty: quite the opposite BUT I never broke into other peoples property, I didn't steal things and I didn't perform acts of wanton destruction with other peoples property.
perini wrote: Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
V_is_back
says...
1:33pm Thu 16 Aug 12
perini wrote:I for one don't believe you. You're saying you never went scrumping apples?
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Lefty: quite the opposite BUT I never broke into other peoples property, I didn't steal things and I didn't perform acts of wanton destruction with other peoples property.
perini wrote: Fence repaired and then struts removed - again! The litle scrotes were breaking in, the authorities repaired it and then it was vandalised again. No sympathy - if he wasn't there he wouldn't have got hurt! Has it now got to a stage where if you don't barricade your goods inside a fortress and someone steals them it's your fault? How about people respecting other people's property and stop trespassing.Because you've been an absolute saint all your life, right? You've never ever made a mistake? You never did anything wrong when you were young? You've never put a foot wrong?
leigh resident
says...
2:27pm Thu 16 Aug 12
asbo uncut wrote:Asbo Uncut, We are from Essex we call everyone mate we are not trying to be "mates" to our kids, you know nothing about mine or anyone elses parenting skills so until you do do not judge me or anyone else. Read the report in the Daily Mail and get your facts right.
leigh resident wrote:you're calling this child "mate" and you are the parent of this boy's friend. maybe parents need to stop being "mates" to their kids and focus on being parents.
Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that. When you are young you don't think about consequences that comes with maturity which 15yearold boys don't have my heart goes out to him and his family , my son goes to the same school and I can confirm he is a lovely kid not a troublemaker not a yob not an intimidating gangmember just a typical teen that made a mistake get better soon mate x
asbo uncut
says...
3:18pm Thu 16 Aug 12
leigh resident wrote:i grew up in essex and i would never refer to my son's friend as "mate". i'm afraid it's a perfectly logical conclusion.... if your children are "mates" they're running rings around you as a parent. if you believe you get truth from the daily mail you probably need a head examination
asbo uncut wrote:Asbo Uncut, We are from Essex we call everyone mate we are not trying to be "mates" to our kids, you know nothing about mine or anyone elses parenting skills so until you do do not judge me or anyone else. Read the report in the Daily Mail and get your facts right.
leigh resident wrote:you're calling this child "mate" and you are the parent of this boy's friend. maybe parents need to stop being "mates" to their kids and focus on being parents.
Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that. When you are young you don't think about consequences that comes with maturity which 15yearold boys don't have my heart goes out to him and his family , my son goes to the same school and I can confirm he is a lovely kid not a troublemaker not a yob not an intimidating gangmember just a typical teen that made a mistake get better soon mate x
pendulum
says...
3:23pm Thu 16 Aug 12
It's sad that he has lost an eye but the blame for that lies with him, nobody else.
PJR-121
says...
3:48pm Thu 16 Aug 12
Sean4u wrote:I did wonder this! Sean - I think you've just blown a hole (pardon the pun) in the Echo's story!
I'm not sure how careless the depot has been: those signals don't require an explosives certificate: http://www.hse.gov.u k/explosives/licensi ng/storage/schedule- 1.htm That's a life-changing injury for the boy, but I think his emotional well-being may be best served by accepting that it was nobody's fault but his own.
These detonators do NOT require an explosives certificate, therefore there are no special requirements for their storage.
They are basically caps that explode under pressure, just loud enough for drivers to hear. Throwing a box of them on a fire is of course going to cause more than one to explode.
But - as they don't need a licence, or special storage instructions, the Echo is not doing it's research, and this is a non-story.
Good find!
Eric Whim
says...
5:03pm Thu 16 Aug 12
Sean4u wrote:I hope he keeps his chin up and relaises that things could have been worse than losing the sight of one eye in this little escapade. When I was in the first year of secondary school a classmate lost the sight in one of his eyes thanks to mucking about with a penknife. It changed his outlook on life - he became more morose and gloomy. About six years later he gassed himself in his garage.
I'm not sure how careless the depot has been: those signals don't require an explosives certificate: http://www.hse.gov.u k/explosives/licensi ng/storage/schedule- 1.htm That's a life-changing injury for the boy, but I think his emotional well-being may be best served by accepting that it was nobody's fault but his own.
John T Pharro
says...
5:52pm Thu 16 Aug 12
V_is_back
says...
5:54pm Thu 16 Aug 12
pendulum wrote:Please don't take numbers of 'likes' on the website of the most right-wing rag in the UK as an indication of public opinion. The Daily Mail once supported Hitler's nazis, it is a lying, nasty, grubby rag, and their website is populated by 'disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells'.
That Daily Mail report you refer to, "leigh resident"... the most popular comment with 460 agreements is one that states the boys should take responsibility for their own criminal actions and stop blaming other people. That is the view of the majority of the public, and mine.
It's sad that he has lost an eye but the blame for that lies with him, nobody else.
whataday
says...
6:53pm Thu 16 Aug 12
Fences, however, are there for a reason - either to keep things e.g. dogs, children, property, machinery etc. inside and safe or to keep things e.g. dogs, children, machinery, nuisances etc. outside and keep contents within and people outside of said area safe.
Another big risk are such things as electricity sub stations which are fenced in and marked as risk of injury/death but people still try to climb in and/or break down fencing.
We have all been young and felt invincible. Dangers have to be explained to children by their parents, however, some people cannot seem to learn unless they find out for themselves.
Sad fact of life. All the Health and Safety rules in the world will not stop some "accidents".
ClaireR
says...
8:08pm Fri 17 Aug 12
Let he who has no sin cast the first stone .......
Sussex percy
says...
9:03am Sun 19 Aug 12
PJR-121 wrote:I agree there are many material Facts that are being overlooked .Network rail and their staff work tirelessly to keep trespassers and thieves off their work sites because it is NOT safe for the general public.As in this case network Rail have repeatedly repaired this fence but trespassers feel it is their right to break down these barriers in order to HAVE FUN.It is of course a tragic outcome however the mothers comment that he was innocently collecting fuel for a campfire is ridiculous (it wasn't a scout trip).i expect throughout the country at many depots I expect the staff will be spending huge amounts of time simply trying to deter trespassers and thieves If people respected the reasons for fences around such areas and the potential danger this would never have happened Jan Sussex
Sean4u wrote:I did wonder this! Sean - I think you've just blown a hole (pardon the pun) in the Echo's story!
I'm not sure how careless the depot has been: those signals don't require an explosives certificate: http://www.hse.gov.u k/explosives/licensi ng/storage/schedule- 1.htm That's a life-changing injury for the boy, but I think his emotional well-being may be best served by accepting that it was nobody's fault but his own.
These detonators do NOT require an explosives certificate, therefore there are no special requirements for their storage.
They are basically caps that explode under pressure, just loud enough for drivers to hear. Throwing a box of them on a fire is of course going to cause more than one to explode.
But - as they don't need a licence, or special storage instructions, the Echo is not doing it's research, and this is a non-story.
Good find!
smiffy22
says...
1:53pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Horace Wimpole
says...
11:07am Mon 3 Sep 12
leigh resident wrote:
asbo uncut wrote:Asbo Uncut, We are from Essex we call everyone mate we are not trying to be "mates" to our kids, you know nothing about mine or anyone elses parenting skills so until you do do not judge me or anyone else. Read the report in the Daily Mail and get your facts right.
leigh resident wrote:you're calling this child "mate" and you are the parent of this boy's friend. maybe parents need to stop being "mates" to their kids and focus on being parents.
Honestly have all you self righteous people never done anything u shouldn't?? Honestly??? Do u not remember what it is like to be 15???? Sure they shouldn't have been there but have a heart the boy is blind he did not deserve that. When you are young you don't think about consequences that comes with maturity which 15yearold boys don't have my heart goes out to him and his family , my son goes to the same school and I can confirm he is a lovely kid not a troublemaker not a yob not an intimidating gangmember just a typical teen that made a mistake get better soon mate x
Read the report in the Daily Mail and get your facts right.Guffaw! The Mail? That bastion of truth and objectivity, right up there with our very own Evening Echo you mean?
jolllyboy
says...
6:08pm Fri 7 Sep 12
perini says...
3:48pm Wed 15 Aug 12