Colchester woman adding posters to bridges amidst calls for more safety measures
Edafe Capener, 52, a holistic therapist, who lives in Mile End, has added six Samaritans helpline posters to the bridge near junction 28 and the Chitts Hill footbridge.
It comes as Mrs Capener, residents and city leaders called for better safety measures after police were called following concerns for a woman on a bridge over the A12 last Thursday.
It led to widespread disruption on the A12.
Samaritan posters - Ms Capener added a crystal for people to keep and hold incase it helps (Image: Newsquest) Mrs Capener and her husband added the posters on both bridges across the weekend, using zip ties to attach them to the bridge's fencing.
She said: 'We've done this so if someone is in desperate need, that call could make a whole lot of difference.
'The Samaritans have trained volunteers who can take calls at all hours of the day.
'At least if people come to the bridge, they can read the posters, and it is a deterrence.
Area - the blue bridge (Image: Newsquest) 'People say 'oh, they could go somewhere else', but that's one less bridge they may go to.
'If we can safeguard the bridges, people will read the messages.
'I want to put six posters on each bridge in Colchester, maybe it will help them reassess their situation.'
Councillor Sara Naylor, who represents the Lexden and Braiswick ward has already called for a summit to bring together emergency services, the county and district councils and MPs.
Speaking up - Edafe Capener (Image: Newsquest)
Road - the A12 below the blue bridge (Image: Newsquest)
Ms Naylor wants people to receive the care they need before reaching crisis point.
Mrs Capener wants fencing at the blue bridge to be made higher to make it safer.
National Highways already works closely with the Samaritans, police, and authorities and routinely reviews incidents to see what more might be done to help people in crisis.
A spokesman previously told the Gazette 'there isn't a single solution that works for every situation' and there can be 'complicated technical challenges involved in altering bridge structures'
However, National Highways does 'carefully review the options' and takes 'practical steps to address them'.
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