Baby Tommy Hollis' death raises fears over safety of lampposts in Chiswick (From Your Local Guardian)

Baby Tommy Hollis' death raises fears over safety of lampposts in Chiswick

6:50am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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Concerns have been raised over “unstable” lampposts in Chiswick following the death of baby Tommy Hollis.

The tot died from head injuries on February 25 – a day before his first birthday – after a 32ft lamppost fell on to his pram outside Chiswick Town Hall.

The post fell just metres from the entrance to the town hall, where a road-widening project was being carried out by Hounslow Council.

Since the tragedy, worried residents have spoken of their safety concerns over other potentially unstable lampposts in Chiswick.

Dave Dinehart, 84, of Pinkham Mansions, spoke of his anger that three lampposts on the Hounslow Homes-run estate have been leaning in a precarious fashion for two years – despite his protests.

He said: “One is leaning to the entrance of the car park and one by the pathway but the one that concerns me most is the one leaning over the children’s play area.

“With all the rain it’s running down into the ground underneath [the lamppost].

“Are they going to wait until it falls on someone before they take action?”

He said despite phone calls to Hounslow Homes, he had received no response.

Another leaning lamppost was reported by Phil Ryder, of Southfield Road, who revealed it had been leaning in a dangerous-looking fashion since it was installed four months ago.

Mr Ryder said: “My study looks out to where the lamppost is and I was fortunate enough to be in when they put it up. It didn’t take long and it wasn’t straight from day one.

“There are a lot of kids who come and go in the flats and I’m sure their parents must be worried about the lamppost.”

The lamppost has since been removed by Ealing Council, after the Hounslow and Brentford Times alerted it to the problem.

An Ealing Council spokeswoman said: “As soon as the problem was reported to the council on Wednesday afternoon, contractors were sent to the site and they immediately removed the lamppost.

“It will be replaced with a new street light as soon as possible.”

A spokeswoman for Hounslow Homes said: “We have been made aware of the lamppost, and have had it inspected and ensured it is safe.”

• Are you worried about unsafe lampposts near your home? Let us know by email (jkilvington@london.newsquest.co.uk), phone the newsdesk on 020 8744 4272 or leave a comment below.