Guildford mother urges taller car park barriers after son’s death
Why Guildford’s Multi-Storey Car Parks Are at the Centre of This Debate
For many of us in Guildford, the multi-storey car parks are part of everyday life. They sit close to the high street, the railway station and the theatres, and on busy weekends they are the only practical place to leave a car. That is why the questions raised after a tragedy at one of them matter so much here. Tom Combeer, 17, died after falling from a car park in the town in the early hours of 8 March 2025. The coroner, Susan Ridge, later said there were not enough measures in place to prevent falls and suicides. Her concerns covered public access to upper levels, the reach of CCTV coverage and, most pointedly, the height of barriers. Guildford Borough Council has committed to installing edge protection across all of its multi-storey car parks by February 2027. For residents who park there after dark, or who walk past on the way home from the pub, that timeline is a practical concern rather than an abstract one. The debate is about the structures we all use and whether they are built to keep people safe at their most vulnerable moments.
A Family Calling for Change and the Councillors Responding
Tom’s mother, Liz Combeer, has become one of the most visible voices in this campaign. She, along with Tom’s father Andy, is backing the Multi-Storey Car Parks Bill, which seeks a legal minimum barrier height of 270cm, or 8ft 10in. The council’s proposed minimum is 110cm, or 3ft 7in. Liz has explained that a barrier of full height would simply be in the way for anyone in a moment of crisis, giving them time for their state of mind to change. The bill is informally known as Gabe’s Law, named after 15-year-old Gabriel Santer, who died after falling from the rooftop of a Liverpool car park. Councillor Vanessa King, the council’s lead on parking, said the safety and wellbeing of everyone who uses the car parks was extremely important and that the authority remained committed to taking proactive steps. The council plans to appoint contractors in December 2026, with the physical work following in the new year. In the meantime, interim fencing is due to go up at relevant locations by the end of 2026. Local firms, including Guildford builders with experience in structural steelwork and edge protection, may find opportunities as these contracts develop.
What Guildford Residents Should Know and Watch Next
If you use a multi-storey car park in Guildford, keep an eye on where interim fencing appears over the coming months and report any gaps, broken lighting or poor CCTV coverage to the council. Those small details can make a real difference. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said the coroner’s concerns will be considered as part of a forthcoming review into protection measures in and around buildings, so this is a national conversation as well as a local one. Residents with an interest in building work may also want to know that the safety standards debated here are not so different from those that apply to a loft conversion or loft refurbishment at home. Good edge protection, sound fixings and clear specifications matter wherever people are working at height. Anyone affected by the issues in this story can find information and support through the BBC Action Line website. If you are struggling, you can also contact the Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time. Over the next year, watch for the council’s contractor appointments, the progress of the Multi-Storey Car Parks Bill and any updates from the government review. This is a story that will shape how safe our town centre feels for years to come.
Source: Guildford mother calls for taller barriers after son’s death
