Storm: Footbridge closed due to risk of electrocution in Harrow Lodge Park
Harrow Lodge Park footbridge was closed - Credit: Archant
Yesterday’s storm caused a risk of electrocution as a willow tree fell on an electrical cable in Harrow Lodge Park.
Officers had to deal with a willow tree that had fallen on an electric cable - Credit: Archant
Parks protection officers were called by police and members of the public at around 6.30am on Monday morning to deal with the cable, which hung “dangerously close” to footbridge railings.
A tree fell onto power lines in Harrow Lodge Park. Police closed a nearby bridge over electrocution fears. Picture: John Hercock - Credit: Archant
Stephen Rawlins, Havering Council parks protection manager, said: “When we first arrived we thought someone might get electrocuted because the cable was dangerously close to the railings.
Yesterday's storm brought down trees throughout the borough - Credit: Archant
“We closed the area off. There was also damage to the other end of the bridge where a tree had fallen on to a street lamp.”
The footbridge remained closed until the area was made safe by the power company, while the parks team also dealt with two other trees that were brought down in the park.
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Street teams across the borough also had early starts on Monday as the council tackled the storm.
Cabinet member for streetcare, Barry Tebbutt, said the council had handled the storm well, due to the expertise of the workers.
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He said: “We have a good team here and they were all set up and ready to go after we received the warning on Sunday night.
“We opened up our main depot in Rainham to contractors, and due to the size of the depot, we have everything we need at our disposal.
A 74-year-old great-grandmother sustained a head injury and a suspected fractured back after being hit by a falling fence panel during Monday’s high winds.
She was taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, following the incident in Highfield Road.
One building, Harold Hill library, was closed for around three hours on Monday morning due to the storm making windows unstable.
