This week 30 years ago: Dirty Seven Sisters Road bollard ‘cost motorist his life’

Islington Council’s failure to keep a traffic bollard clean may have cost a motorist his life, an inquest heard.

The 69-year-old, from Anson Road in Tufnell Park, died from head injuries a week after crashing into the bollard in Seven Sisters Road, Holloway.

The inquest heard police made repeated, and failed, attempts to persuade the council to keep the illuminated bollard clean and in good order.

The court was told the bollard was probably invisible in the dark because of the layer of grime covering it.

Westminster coroner David Knapman said: “We have heard a story of what seems to be a completely non-existent system of assessing priorities and at least seven calls from the police going unheeded.”

In lighter news, Michael Conway, landlord of the Queen’s Arms pub in Penton Street, managed to collect an impressive 400 Easter eggs for kids in hospital, as well as £400 for cuddly bunnies.