Residents and campaigners call for action on 'suicide bridge' Published duration 29 June 2013

media caption Campaigners want barriers on 'suicide bridge'

Local residents and campaigners gathered on a bridge in north London calling for measures to prevent people from taking their lives there.

Since 2010 three people have killed themselves at Hornsey Lane Bridge over Archway Road and earlier this month another man ended his life.

Up to 800 people have signed a petition calling for anti-suicide measures.

Haringey Council said installing high tensile wires was an option and the plans will be put to English Heritage.

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, Green Party MEP for London Jean Lambert and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett have backed the campaign along with mental health charities Sane and Calm.

The bridge is located next to a school and residents say the deaths cause trauma to bereaved families as well as people nearby.

Sarah Cope, campaign co-ordinator, said, "There is every reason to make suicide harder and accessing help easier.

"This will save lives, save trauma and even save money."

image caption Since 2010 four people have taken their lives

Haringey Council said its architects were drafting anti-suicide measures for the bridge which will be presented to English Heritage next month.

The options include installing high tensile wires, which would be 1.5m higher than the current rails with an inwards angled top to prevent people from climbing over - similar to what was introduced on Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for environment, said: "Archway bridge is an English Heritage site and any designs must be authorised by them before preparatory works can begin.

"These latest designs, involving these thin tensile wires, could provide the solution we have been hoping for without compromising the structural integrity of the bridge or its aesthetic qualities."