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Mother Fights For Taller Barriers After Son's Death
1 Nov
Summary
- A teenager died after falling from a Guildford car park in March 2025.
- A campaign seeks a legal minimum barrier height of 270cm.
- Council plans to install edge protection by February 2027.
A mother is spearheading a campaign for increased safety measures in multi-storey car parks after her son's fatal fall. Tom Combeer, aged 17, died in March 2025 following an incident at a car park in Guildford. An inquest into his death highlighted insufficient safety measures, prompting a coroner's warning.
Tom's mother, Liz Combeer, is now backing a proposed legal minimum barrier height of 270cm (8ft 10in). This is significantly higher than Guildford Borough Council's planned minimum of 110cm (3ft 7in). The campaign, inspired by Gabe's Law, aims to provide adequate protection and prevent similar incidents.
Guildford Borough Council has committed to installing edge protection in all its multi-storey car parks by February 2027. They plan to appoint contractors in December 2026, with interim fencing to be installed by the end of 2026. The council emphasizes its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of car park users.
