'Added vigour' to harbour safety review after death

A review of safety on Bristol's harbour will happen "with added vigour" following the death of a police officer in November.

Rehaan Akhtar drowned in the harbour after spending the night out in the city.

But, the Bristol Harbour Authority warned it was unlikely more railings would be put up over concerns the area would "lose its identity and appeal".

A petition over the issue has attracted more than 1,600 signatures, with claims the current safety measures are inadequate. Bristol City Council said it was looking at what lessons could be learned.

Akhtar, from Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, did not return to the hostel he was staying at following a night out with friends, the opening of his inquest at Avon Coroner's Court was told last month.

Following a post-mortem examination, the assistant coroner recorded his provisional cause of death as drowning.

The inquest was then adjourned, with a provisional date for its next hearing listed for 24 February.

Much of the harbour is already surrounded by railings. But these have gaps and are easy to climb over to get closer to the water's edge.

And several parts of the harbour do not have railings, such as the steps in front of the Cottage pub.

While there are ladders on the harbour walls, allowing people to climb out, these are not lit up and so are difficult to see at night.

Cliff Brand, head of service for the Bristol Harbour Authority, said: "We've agreed to look at the items which have been raised by the coroner, in so much as increasing safety.

"In light of the unfortunate accident to the PC from Wales, we will continue to do that [safety review] with added vigour."

Brand said he was not happy with the idea of adding extra railings around the harbour.

"Bristol harbour is quite unique and if we were to go around putting railings all around the harbour, it's going to lose its identity and appeal.

"I've been to harbours before where they're basically ring fenced with railings and it's awful.

"Yes, it meets safety needs, but it diverges away from what the harbour stands for, and that's particularly the case with Bristol.

"But we will certainly take on board the need to enhance our safety measures, because we need to stop these kinds of accidents from happening."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Brown, chair of the harbour committee, added: "I think the committee will join me in sending commiserations to the families of those who have recently died within the harbour.

"We will be working through with officers to see what lessons can be learned and to see what may or may not be done to improve safety within the harbour."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.