Cambridgeshire County Council admits health and safety breaches over busway deaths

Cambridgeshire County Council has pleaded guilty to health and safety offences linked to the deaths of three people on the guided busway.

The authority’s chief executive Dr Stephen Moir admitted the council had fallen “far short” in meeting health and safety standards in a statement issued yesterday.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began legal proceedings against the county council in May this year following the deaths of Jennifer Taylor, Steven Moir, and Kathleen Pitts on the busway. The prosecution is also linked related to other incidents where people were hurt accessing the busway.

Dr Moir’s statement said: “The charges brought against the council relate to the tragic loss of the lives of Jennifer Taylor, Steven Moir, and Kathleen Pitts, along with other incidents where individuals accessing the busway were injured.

“The county council, first and most importantly, continues to extend its deepest condolences to the families and friends directly affected by these tragic events. They are at the forefront of our thoughts today.

"In providing the guided busway for the people of Cambridgeshire, the county council has a duty and responsibility to uphold the highest standards of health and safety at work. We fully recognise and accept that during the historic operation of the guided busway, when these incidents occurred, that we fell far short of meeting these standards. For that, we are truly sorry.

"With that clear understanding and acceptance, we are therefore taking an important and responsible decision, today, to plead guilty to the two offences which the HSE is prosecuting the council for. In doing so, we fully acknowledge the serious historic failings on the part of the county council, which we are now addressing.

"The safety of people accessing the guided busway is of paramount importance to the county council and to the bus operators that use our infrastructure.

“We have ensured and we will continue to ensure that the lessons learned from these historic failures are addressed properly. We will further ensure that the current and future management of the guided busway is regularly reviewed, updated and that the necessary assurances are in place to enable us to provide this important, accessible, and safe public transport system to the people of Cambridgeshire.

"Although we are issuing this statement today due to the ongoing legal proceedings and whilst we await further decisions from the courts, it would not be appropriate for the County Council to offer any further comment at this time."

Jennifer Taylor died aged 81 in November 201 when she was hit by a bus as she crossed the busway on foot at Fen Drayton.

Steven Moir, 50, was a cyclist who died after colliding with a bus on a section of the busway between the railway station and Long Road in September 2018.

Fifty-two-year-old pedestrian Kathleen Pitts, died on a similar section of the busway as Mr Moir after being hit by a bus in October 2021.