Father took his own life after ‘council imposed major disruptions’

A father-of-four took his own life after ‘three major life disruptions’ imposed by the council resulted in him losing his job, income, and home, an inquest heard.

Alistair Taylor, 34, had run a successful barbershop for years but was forced to move premises when Blackpool Council suddenly terminated his lease.

The following year, he was told that the authority wanted to acquire his family home under a ‘Compulsory Purchase Order’ to build a new education campus.

The devastating blow came after he had painstakingly adapted the house to meet the needs of two of his children, who have disabilities.

His family claim the council ’employed hostile tactics’, which they say Alistair described as ‘intimidating and bullying’.

An inquest at Blackpool Town Hall heard that the drawn out legal process over the compulsory purchase ‘more than minimally’ contributed to a deterioration in Alistair’s mental health.

Coroner Alan Wilson said it was one of a number of factors that had contributed to his deterioration in the preceding months, but that the council had ‘under-appreciated the potential impact’ on him and his family.

He also said that in the months prior to his death, Alistair was increasingly affected by ‘exposure to influences on social media’ which came at ‘the detriment of his marriage’.

On October 4 last year, he died after hanging himself with the intention of taking his own life. 

His father, Paul, said: ‘Alistair was a devoted father and a hardworking man who we witnessed suffer extreme stress and hardship as a direct result of Blackpool Council’s actions.

‘Over a three-year period, the council imposed three major life disruptions over which Alistair had no control: the loss of his job, his income, and his home.

‘Research shows that any one of these factors significantly increases the risk of suicide. 

‘Experiencing all three can be catastrophic. Surely, this isn’t the way to treat council tax payers.’

He added that despite Alistair engaging ‘constructively with the compulsory purchase’ the council ‘repeatedly failed to properly consider his family’s vulnerability’.

‘Instead, we believe they employed hostile tactics, which Alistair described to us as intimidating and bullying,’ he said.

‘The relentless stress, lack of support, and inadequate compensation drove him to exhaustion, isolation, and despair.’

Alistair bought his home on Milbourne Street in 2016 and had adapted it to meet the disability needs of two of his four children.

He was told about the council’s plans in 2022, as they wanted to acquire the property to build a £65m ‘multiversity’ education campus.

Discussions about the purchase of a new home for Alistair’s family followed, but he tragically took his own life with the matter still unresolved.

His devastated relatives said his mental health continually deteriorated over the last two years of his life.

They said the council made ‘derisory’ offers for a new house, with the process taking two years before Alistair finally accepted an offer.

Previously, Alistair’s family said he had been left ‘blindsided’ when Blackpool Council acquired Abingdon Street Market where he had run his successful barbers business for eight years.

As part of plans to refurbish the market, they said the council terminated Alistair’s lease without notice and he was forced to find alternative business premises.

Having managed to relocate, it left him having to work tirelessly to rebuild his business from scratch – often working more than 60 hours per week, having taken on more costly premises.

Alistair’s brother, Stephen, said: ‘Alistair and Donna should have been amongst the first families offered support, and a suitable home should have been found for them as soon as possible.

‘This did not happen. As a council tax payer and local business owner, Alistair should have expected to be treated with respect, kindness and care.

‘We feel he was intimidated, ignored and belittled. What happened to Alistair must never happen again to any other family.

‘Alistair told me how scared he was when he had a meeting with three officials at his home. He owned his home. He couldn’t understand why they weren’t helping look after his boys as they were meant to.

‘The sheer amount of stress this placed Alistair under, wondering how he was going to house his family, led to him working 12-to-13-hour days, six days a week.

‘He became fully absorbed in making the money to support them, unfortunately to the detriment of his relationship with his wife Donna.

‘He refused to seek support for how rapidly his mental state was deteriorating and became increasingly distant and agitated. It all simply got too much.’

Coroner Alan Wilson heard evidence from Alistair’s family and council officials.

He said that a number of factors had contributed to a deterioration in his mental health in the months preceding Alistair’s death, which he recorded as suicide.

He said this included the ‘protracted legal process’ of the compulsory purchase of his home from the council, with the impact of stress he felt exacerbating his mental health struggles.

Gareth Hancock, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: ‘Alistair’s family were left devastated at seeing his mental health deteriorate as so many factors caused him to suffer from increasing levels of stress.’

He added: ‘With plans underway to demolish more homes using compulsory purchase order powers, they hope that the council will now reflect deeply on the impact on Alistair and his family, and ensure adequate support is provided for vulnerable families, especially regarding their mental health, when imposing significant life changes on residents, such as demolishing their homes.’

Blackpool Council has been approached for comment.