Mum of van murder victim welcomes bollards decision

A mother whose son was killed by a van driver in Ilkeston town centre has welcomed plans to install permanent bollards in the spot where he died.

Loraine Wilson's son Samuel, 26, died in December 2023 when Zac Newman drove a van into a group in Market Place. He was later convicted of murder.

Wilson previously said she had been "blanked" by Derbyshire County Council in her campaign for safety improvements but following a meeting with highways bosses, the authority said the installation of bollards in the area was an "important step" to improve safety.

"I'm going to keep on with this, my son was murdered and it shouldn't have happened," she said.

Dozens of bollards are already in place in Market Square and traffic is completely banned between 10:00 and 16:00, but vehicles are allowed in for access at other times.

Wilson has called for the bollards to be made permanent along with other safety improvements.

She said the council had committed to bollards at the point of access where Newman drove his van at son between The King's Head and Sir John Warren pubs but there were "three other access points that need addressing".

Labour MP for Erewash, Adam Thompson, said Market Place was legally not a road but had been routinely used as such and he had previously approached Google and Apple about removing the route from their maps.

"I feel a little bit more encouraged because at least something is now being done," Wilson said.

"I don't want to be negative and say, nothing's been done, but we need more, we need a lot more and we're not going to stop until we achieve what we set out to do."

Wilson said her son had been waiting for a taxi when Newman - who the trial judge said had been seeking trouble while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol - retrieved his work van from a nearby car park and drove towards the group.

In July 2024, Newman was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.

Thompson, who attended the meeting between Wilson and the council, said he was "grateful" to the authority for "finally taking action".

"I hope that we can go forward working together productively and in good faith for Ilkeston and its people," he said.

"There is still a long way to go, and things need to change, but undeniably this is a major step forward."

Charlotte Hill, the council's cabinet member for highways, said: "The incident that took place in Ilkeston was a heinous crime that tragically cost a young man's life. Samuel's family have campaigned tirelessly to improve the safety of Ilkeston Market Place and we are listening.

"The installation of the bollards at Ilkeston Market Place is an important step but physical barriers are only part of a wider solution.

"Visible deterrents provided by an active police presence, enforcing the pedestrian only zone, would help to combat the number of cars ignoring the pedestrian only areas.

"Other barriers have previously been removed around the Market Place, that belong to Erewash Borough Council, and as the need to improve the safety of the area for pedestrians grows we hope to see these utilised once more in the future."

Erewash Borough Council has been contacted for comment.

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