Bishop Auckland viaduct has long been a place for desperate people to end their lives, this must stop. Everyone must do their best to identify and help others when they feel suicidal, and this viaduct is a magnet for individuals that get to extreme levels of depression.

10 years ago, police looked at taking measures to put safety railings up, but nothing was done. Putting anti-climb (anti-suicide) railings on both sides of this viaduct is not going to help individuals, but it will stop them climbing and jumping to a certain end, it will give the public and emergency services time to talk and listen when someone still attempts to jump, and it will stop such a public, sad end to people’s lives.

Durham County Council and the highways department are the ones that have the power to secure these railings and make the bridge a safer place. This petition will force them to look at the number of people who have jumped from the bridge over many years and take action to stop this suicide hotspot attracting desperate individuals and causing public stress in the community.

We must stop this from happening, something must change, and quickly.