As Parliament returned from recess this week I brought my Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill back to The House on Friday. The Bill, named for my constituent Gabriel Santer who sadly lost his life falling from the Q Park in the city centre, seeks to raise the height of guardrail fencing in multi-storeys and see 24-hour car park staffing. The current height is just 1.1 metres while my Bill would, if successful, see this raised to 2.7 metres.
I was featured on Thursday alongside some of the impacted families on ITV News, where we made the case for why this Bill is so important. Though Government has never kept figures on these types of death, whether suicide or by accidental fall, we know that in 2022 there were at least 17 deaths from car parks. Put simply, it would help save lives.
Unfortunately on Friday the Bill was objected to by the Government, though I did have meetings this week with the Ministers concerned about the Bill and its importance. I will continue meeting with them on this and will be bringing the Bill back next Friday, September 11th.