COUNCILLORS demanded “not to be treated like children” after learning of enforcement notices issued by the HSE executive, following the death of an elderly woman killed in a council bin wagon incident.
At a finance and resources overview and scrutiny committee held at the council’s Coed Pella HQ on Monday 1, Abergele councillor Paul Luckock asked for an update on the Llandudno tragedy.
Emergency services were called to the town’s Marble Arch off Brookes Street on the morning of 1 September 2025 after Ms Daphne Stallard, 89, was killed in an incident involving a council recycling truck.
Conwy was last week served with three improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Cllr Luckock asked for an update, and other councillors concurred, including the meeting’s chairwoman Cllr Cheryl Carlisle.
But despite being asked by legal officers not to discuss the matter, several councillors appeared aggrieved they’d not been kept informed, including Cllr Abdul Khan who said councillors were “not school children”.
Cllr Paul Luckock said: “Can I request a statement today on the enforcement notice we received from the health and safety executive of the death of the lady on the streets of Llandudno?
“I read about it in the press. I, personally as a councillor, have not received any information either from the officers or cabinet member about this enforcement notice we’ve received, and I think it would be appropriate. Matt (legal officer) will advise us on what can be said, but it would be appropriate for us to hear, if you like, what the state of that situation is today.”
Cllr Carlisle added: “Yes, I, like you, read about it in the press on Friday night. We weren’t notified as members.”
Cllr Carlisle then asked Conwy’s legal officer Matthew Georgiou and the chief executive Rhun ap Gareth to comment
“Thank you for the question, and I fully appreciate members weren’t cited,” said Mr Rhun ap Gareth.
“There are ongoing processes in this matter, as you’ll probably be aware, so it’s very difficult for us to comment.”
He then suggested Conwy’s head of environment, roads, and facilities Geraint Williams knew more. He added: “It is difficult to go into detail at the moment because there are active investigations going on.”
Conwy’s legal officer Mr Georgiou added: “It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to go into detail now.”
He then said officers could brief members outside the meeting.
Cabinet member for the environment, roads, and infrastructure Cllr Mike Priestley said councillors should listen to officers’ advice and not discuss the matter.
Cllr Priestley said the notices had been put out by the health and safety executive and that the authority was drafting a response.
But cabinet member for housing, regulatory, and audit Cllr Stephen Anthony Price added: “Improvement notices have been issued by the HSE, and we are expected to deliver on those by 15 December of this year.”
“From what I’ve been told, there is no prosecution, but the only potential costs to the council is to be in those improvement notices.”
He added: “I’d like to thank Paul (Cllr Luckock) for bringing the matter up. It is always very difficult to lose a loved one in these circumstances, and it is also equally as tragic for the workmen who were involved in that particular accident on the day.”
Cllr Price added it was “best we take the chief exec’s advice”, and “await further reports from officers”.
Both Cllr Carlisle and Cllr Abdul Khan offered their thoughts to the family of Ms Stallard.
But Cllr Abdul Khan added: “Prevention is better than the cure. If that was confidential at least…”
Cllr Priestley cut across Cllr Khan. He said: “Point of order. I don’t think we should be discussing it.”
Mr Georgiou added: “No, chair, I’ve already really advised on this. I don’t think we should continue.”
Cllr Khan said: “We are not discussing. All we are saying is we learn from that for the future so that all members don’t have to know from the press or public. We are not school children.”
