Growing calls for safety improvements as police confirm death of third student

Second year law student Euan Coulthard is thought to have drowned after a night out to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday in the city centre on January 14.

But even before the 19-year-old’s sudden disappearance, concerns were raised about the safety of students, many of whom live in college halls close to the River Wear.

As in other university cities, such as York and Manchester, it is proving to be a dangerous mix: young people living away from home for the first time, drinking in the city centre’s nightspots, then heading home along dimly lit and often unpaved footpaths by the water’s edge.

American-born economics student Sope Peters drowned in October 2013 after a night out drinking with friends. In May, 19-year-old rugby player Luke Pearce, from London, died after a night out in the city centre with friends. His body was found eight days later near Baths Bridge.

At the inquest into the death of Mr Peters, coroner Andrew Tweddle called for the installation of a barrier at the spot near Elvet Bridge where the 20-year-old is believed to have gone into the river, down a dimly-lit alley next to the popular Klute nightclub.

Freshers arriving at Durham for the start of the new academic year in October were warned about the potential dangers of walking home alone along the riverbanks in a joint campaign organised by the university and police, which focussed on planning safe routes home.

But just four months later, the river claimed a third life.

When Mr Coulthard went missing, 30-year-old Durham resident Robyn Travers started an online petition calling for safety measures to help prevent further fatalities. The petition, which currently has 13,000 signatures, offers a number of suggestions for precautions including barriers alongside the Wear, better lighting and CCTV cameras.

She said: “Some people, including students, called for more education on alcohol awareness, so at their request I met with Sgt Michael Urwin and PCSO/University liaison Rebecca Carey on what actions had been taken since recent tragedies.

“They advised that some strategies have been put in place such as more education and alcohol awareness for people along with vulnerability training for door staff at local bars and night clubs and even student volunteer groups to help with the welfare of their fellow students on a night out.”

Her petition won backing from Prime Minister David Cameron and Durham County Council has since announced a review of security along the riverbanks. However, any proposed safety improvements would have to overcome a series of hurdles.

The College of St Hild and St Bede is one of the university colleges which is located next to the river and its accommodation lies a ten minute walk away from the centre of the city along the tow path.

Chairman of the college’s exec, Ed Ringe, said: “People from this college have been suggesting precautions for several years and there have been reasons why each thing has been rejected so it just depends on whether the council now reconsiders after what has happened. We are just focusing on trying to encourage people to stay safe”.

Among the obvious hurdles is the sheer length of the riverbank as the Wear meanders through the city centre. Each of the students went missing at a different location: Mr Coulthard was last seen near Framwelgate Bridge; Mr Peters went missing near Elvet Bridge and Mr Pearce went missing between Elvet Bridge and Baths Bridge. There are therefore questions as to which areas would be protected, how they would be chosen and how security would be paid for, given that Durham County Council is facing budget cuts of £250m by 2019.

There are further complications posed by the patchwork of land ownership along the river and the need to consider whether extra security measures could impinge on views of the Cathedral and Castle which are part of a World Heritage Site.

However, there appears to be a will to do something to help avoid a fourth tragedy. During the search for Mr Coulthard, John Holmes, Head of Property at Durham Cathedral which owns much of the riverbank, issued a statement saying “As one of the landowners of the city centre riverbanks, the Cathedral will liaise with partners such as Durham County Council and the University to assess riverbank safety over the coming weeks.”

Durham County Council leader Cllr Simon Henig said the review being carried out by the authority would consider extra signage and safety equipment, focusing particularly on areas of high footfall and around the city’s nightspots, as well as extra education work.

Cllr Henig promised the council would do “everything we can” to support public safety and added: “We will identify any areas where safety may need to be changed.”