HSE To Prosecute County Council Over Busway Deaths

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to prosecute Cambridgeshire County Council, following their investigation into the deaths of three people on the guided busway.

The deaths of Jennifer Taylor, Steve Moir and Kathleen Pitts all took place over a six-year period whilst a teenager was injured on the busway near Kings Hedges Road in November 2021.

81-year-old Jennifer Taylor died in November 2015 when she crossed the busway at Fen Drayton.

Another pedestrian, 52-year-old Kathlen Pitts, was hit by a busy between Cambridge railway station and Long Road in October 2021, close to where the same stretch that 52-year-old cyclist Steve Moir was killed in 2018.

Kathleen Pitts's inquest is ongoing.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was prosecuting Cambridgeshire County Council with a court hearing will be set for a future date.

The HSE said an "extensive" investigation had led it to charge the council under section three(one) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Cambridgeshire County Council said, “we continue to extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of Jennifer Taylor, Stephen Moir and Kathleen Pitts.

“Safety on the busway is and remains a priority for the County Council and the operators that use the busway.

"Since its opening in 2011, the Guided Busway has seen 33 million passenger journeys, the number of bus services has more than doubled, and during that time the council has worked with experts and made regular safety enhancements.

“There is a great deal of information to consider and for legal reasons it would not be appropriate to comment further in light of the decision taken by the HSE.”