Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Hajra Sidat

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0370, written 1 Nov 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report1 Nov 2019
Reference2019-0370
DeceasedHajra Sidat
CoronerJean Harkin
Coroner areaCheshire
CategoryRoad (Highways Safety) related deaths · Child Death (from 2015)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published4

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1) 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  Cheshire East Highways Department 
2.  Chief Executive, Cheshire East Council 

1  CORONER 

I am Mrs Jean Harkin assistant coroner, for the coroner area of Cheshire. 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 6 November 2018 I commenced an investigation into the deaths of 
Liyakat Ali SIDAT, aged 47 years, Salma Bibi SIDAT, aged 41 years and 
Hajra Bibi SIDAT, aged 14 years.  The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest 
on 23 October 2019.  The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision in all 
three deaths.  Multiple injuries represented the main feature in all medical causes of 
death. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Mr Liyakat Ali Sidat was driving his vehicle, a Toyota Yaris, on the A34 Melrose Way 
towards Wilmslow, also known locally as the Alderley Edge Bypass on the 
4 November  2018.  Mr Sidat overtook 2 vehicles on a bend and collided with an 
oncoming vehicle.  Mr Sidat, his wife and his daughter sustained fatal injury.  

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern.  
In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.  In the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. 

(1)  The A34 bypass (Melrose Way Bend) presents a danger to life. 
(2)  The Melrose Way section has no continuous white line at the bend section 

preventing overtaking. 

It is dangerous to overtake on that stretch of road witness evidence referred to how dark 
it was and lives are at risk if overtaking is allowed to continue there. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and/or 
your organisation have the power to take such action. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 26 December 2019.  I, the coroner, may extend the period. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out 
the timetable for action.  Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have  sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested 
Persons: 

1.  The Sidat family 

2.  Local Safeguarding Board where the deceased was under 18. 

I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. 

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary 
form.  He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it 
useful or of interest.  You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of 
your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief 
Coroner. 

9 

1 November 2019 

Jean Harkin, Assistant Coroner 

2

Responses

4 responses published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Cheshire East Highways (PDF)
Jean Harkin 
Town  Hall 
Sankey Way 
Warrington 
Cheshire 
WA11UH 

Working for a 

together 

Westfields 
c/o Municipal Buildings
Earle Street
Crewe
CW1  2BJ
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

DATE: 25 February 2020 
Your reference:JH/JM//15976/15977/15978/MACC 

OUR REF:  CEX 7314389 

Dear Ms  Harkin 

RE:  LiyakatAli SIDAT,  Salma  Bibi  SIDAT,  Hajra  Sidi SIDAT (Deceased). 

In  response to your letter dated  16th  January 2020 we can  advise that the meeting of 15th 
November 2019 has taken  place and  reviewed  the Road  Safety Assessment report for the 
A34 Melrose Way prepared  by the Council's Senior Road  Safety Engineer. The report 
recommended  that the existing  hazard  centreline marking  is  replaced with  a hatched hazard 
centreline. This will give a visual carriageway narrowing effect and  put greater distance 
between the traffic travelling  in  both directions and  may help heighten driver awareness 
when considering  overtaking  manoeuvres. This recommendation  has been  accepted  by the 
Council and  the works  are programmed to  be carried  out in  March. 

The Council's has  prepared  a response to the Coroners  Report addressing  Section  5 items 1 
and  2 but has not prepared  a response to  item  3 as we  understand that the Coroners Report 
is  currently being  corrected to  remove this factual  inaccuracy.  Once the  updated Coroners 
report is  issued the council will  review Section 5 -Coroners Concerns to  ensure all items are 
addressed  in  its formal response. 

We trust this  response is helpful to you 

Yours faithfully 

The Cheshire East Highways Team 

All other enquiries  0300 123 5500 

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk
Response from Cheshire East Highways Team Published 1 (PDF)
Acting Officer Manager 
For H.M. Coroner for Cheshire  

Westfields 
c/o Municipal Buildings 
Earle Street 
Crewe 
CW1 2BJ 
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk 

Date: 28th October 2021                                        

Dear Mrs Rhodes 

RE: Prevention of Future Deaths report, A34 Melrose Way 

Thank you for your emails dated 3rd March 2021 and 20th May 2021 and please accept 
our sincere apologies for the delay in providing you with a response.  

Further to your email of 16th October 2020 advising that the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths relating to Liyakat Ali Sidat, Salma Bibi Sidat, Hajra Bidi Sidat 
(Deceased) has been updated we can confirm we have taken the following actions in 
response to section 5 of the report: 

Item 1 The A34 Bypass (Melrose Way Bend) presents a danger to life  
As advised on 25th February 2020 a road safety assessment report for A34 Melrose 
Way was prepared by the Council’s Senior Road Safety Engineer. A number of 
options were considered in consultation with Cheshire Constabulary. The report 
recommended that the existing centre line marking is replaced with a hatched hazard 
centreline and red surfacing. The recommendation was accepted by the Council and 
works were scheduled and completed in March 2020. 

Item 2 The Melrose Way Section has no continuous white line at the bend 
section preventing overtaking  
There are strict regulations set by the Department for Transport for the use of solid 
double white lines. Melrose Way was assessed but did not meet the criteria for such 
lines. However, the works recommended in the road safety assessment report were 
implemented in March 2020 (shown in the attached photo) to discourage overtaking. 

It is dangerous to overtake on that section of road. Witness evidence referred 
to how dark it was and lives are at risk if overtaking is allowed to continue 
there. 
The introduction of the red surfacing and hatched centre line aims to discourage 
overtaking. These measures comply with national regulations and guidance. 

OFFICIAL 

 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 We trust our actions address the concerns raised in the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths. 

We trust this information is of assistance.  

Yours sincerely  

The Cheshire East Highways Team 

OFFICIAL
Response from Cheshire East Highways Team Published 2 (PDF)
Acting Officer Manager 
For H.M. Coroner for Cheshire  

Westfields 
c/o Municipal Buildings 
Earle Street 
Crewe 
CW1 2BJ 
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk 

Date: 28th October 2021                                        

Dear Mrs Rhodes 

RE: Prevention of Future Deaths report, A34 Melrose Way 

Thank you for your emails dated 3rd March 2021 and 20th May 2021 and please accept 
our sincere apologies for the delay in providing you with a response.  

Further to your email of 16th October 2020 advising that the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths relating to Liyakat Ali Sidat, Salma Bibi Sidat, Hajra Bidi Sidat 
(Deceased) has been updated we can confirm we have taken the following actions in 
response to section 5 of the report: 

Item 1 The A34 Bypass (Melrose Way Bend) presents a danger to life  
As advised on 25th February 2020 a road safety assessment report for A34 Melrose 
Way was prepared by the Council’s Senior Road Safety Engineer. A number of 
options were considered in consultation with Cheshire Constabulary. The report 
recommended that the existing centre line marking is replaced with a hatched hazard 
centreline and red surfacing. The recommendation was accepted by the Council and 
works were scheduled and completed in March 2020. 

Item 2 The Melrose Way Section has no continuous white line at the bend 
section preventing overtaking  
There are strict regulations set by the Department for Transport for the use of solid 
double white lines. Melrose Way was assessed but did not meet the criteria for such 
lines. However, the works recommended in the road safety assessment report were 
implemented in March 2020 (shown in the attached photo) to discourage overtaking. 

It is dangerous to overtake on that section of road. Witness evidence referred 
to how dark it was and lives are at risk if overtaking is allowed to continue 
there. 
The introduction of the red surfacing and hatched centre line aims to discourage 
overtaking. These measures comply with national regulations and guidance. 

OFFICIAL 

 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 We trust our actions address the concerns raised in the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths. 

We trust this information is of assistance.  

Yours sincerely  

The Cheshire East Highways Team 

OFFICIAL
Response from Cheshire East Highways Team (PDF)
Acting Officer Manager 
For H.M. Coroner for Cheshire  

Westfields 
c/o Municipal Buildings 
Earle Street 
Crewe 
CW1 2BJ 
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk 

Date: 28th October 2021                                        

Dear Mrs Rhodes 

RE: Prevention of Future Deaths report, A34 Melrose Way 

Thank you for your emails dated 3rd March 2021 and 20th May 2021 and please accept 
our sincere apologies for the delay in providing you with a response.  

Further to your email of 16th October 2020 advising that the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths relating to Liyakat Ali Sidat, Salma Bibi Sidat, Hajra Bidi Sidat 
(Deceased) has been updated we can confirm we have taken the following actions in 
response to section 5 of the report: 

Item 1 The A34 Bypass (Melrose Way Bend) presents a danger to life  
As advised on 25th February 2020 a road safety assessment report for A34 Melrose 
Way was prepared by the Council’s Senior Road Safety Engineer. A number of 
options were considered in consultation with Cheshire Constabulary. The report 
recommended that the existing centre line marking is replaced with a hatched hazard 
centreline and red surfacing. The recommendation was accepted by the Council and 
works were scheduled and completed in March 2020. 

Item 2 The Melrose Way Section has no continuous white line at the bend 
section preventing overtaking  
There are strict regulations set by the Department for Transport for the use of solid 
double white lines. Melrose Way was assessed but did not meet the criteria for such 
lines. However, the works recommended in the road safety assessment report were 
implemented in March 2020 (shown in the attached photo) to discourage overtaking. 

It is dangerous to overtake on that section of road. Witness evidence referred 
to how dark it was and lives are at risk if overtaking is allowed to continue 
there. 
The introduction of the red surfacing and hatched centre line aims to discourage 
overtaking. These measures comply with national regulations and guidance. 

OFFICIAL 

 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 We trust our actions address the concerns raised in the Regulation 28 report to 
prevent future deaths. 

We trust this information is of assistance.  

Yours sincerely  

The Cheshire East Highways Team 

OFFICIAL

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