A REVIEW has been launched into what can be done to prevent suicide attempts from council-owned car parks.

It follows the death of a 60-year-old woman in December last year. Karen Wiggins died after jumping from Fleming Way car park.

At an inquest into her death, assistant coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said he planned to write to the car park’s owners, Swindon Borough Council, encouraging them to put up more anti-suicide advice in the town’s multi-storeys.

Mr Rheinberg said: “Anything that can be done to prevent future tragedies should be pursued.”

He gave the council a month to respond to his report.

A spokesman for the borough said: “This was a truly tragic incident and our thoughts go out to the family of the person involved.

“Although we have worked with the Samaritans over the past few years to put up signs in our car parks, we are grateful to the coroner for raising this issue and we will be conducting a review of all our car parks to ensure we are doing all that we can to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

“We take the safety of vulnerable people extremely seriously and our patrolling car park staff are trained to be vigilant of any distressed people in our multi-storey car parks and will respond accordingly. We also have a mental health triage worker who is working with the police to provide additional support and advice with regard to treating those in crisis.”

When the Advertiser visited Fleming Way multi-storey car park no signs could be seen pointing people towards the Samaritans or other similar services.

At the Salisbury inquest the car park attendant who was one of the first to find Mrs Wiggins’ body and the detective leading the investigation into her death backed proposals to install anti-suicide advice.Anthony O’Sullivan, a council-employed parking officer, said: “That is a good idea. I might put that forward.”

Assistant coroner Mr Rheinberg asked investigator Det Con Nigel Bullimore how many deaths there had been at Fleming Way car park. The officer said: “It is common knowledge that multi-storey car parks in town are favoured areas for people who are intending to end their lives.”

The Samaritans are available to help anybody in distress and can be reached at any time of the day or night free on 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans.org.