Open letter from MP demands answers over Ilkeston Market Place safety failures

Credit: The Office of Adam Thompson MP

Erewash MP Adam Thompson has written an open letter to Cllr Charlotte Hill, Reform’s Highways Lead at Derbyshire County Council to demand answers on what work is being done to make Ilkeston Market Place safer.

The action follows a meeting, held in the town in April 2026, between Adam, Cllr Hill, and family members of Samuel Wilson, but Mr. Thompson has said that whilst the meeting had seemed like a pragmatic cross-party discussion, it was followed by “…months of silence and inaction.”

A statement said that Councillor Hill only responded after repeated chasing and a direct appeal to Reform Derbyshire’s leader Alan Graves, but there was then only a commitment to look into installing a barrier between the John Warren and Kings Head pubs.

It added: “While this would be welcome, it stops well short of the action needed to make Ilkeston Market Place truly safe. A comprehensive review into safety for pedestrians is needed, and the present road traffic rules on the Market Place are not fit for purpose.”

The letter also asks for clarification on the claim that full road layout plans for the Market Place have either been lost or do not exist. Evidence has also been requested that current signage and enforcement on the Market Place are sufficient.

The letter and the earlier meeting with Charlotte Hill are part of a long-running campaign that follows the murder of Samuel Wilson on Ilkeston Market Place in 2023. Samuel’s mother Loraine and partner Lauren Colton have expressed disappointment about Derbyshire County Council’s ongoing inaction.

In 2025, a public petition to make Ilkeston Market Place safer was backed by Loraine and Lauren and organised by Adam as their MP. It garnered more than 7000 signatures and received cross-party support, including from Reform county councillors.

Loraine Wilson, Samuel’s mother, and Lauren Colton, his partner, said: “Nearly two years on, we’re still waiting for meaningful action. That’s incredibly disappointing when we’ve been campaigning for what we believe are the bare minimum safety measures to help stop another family going through what ours has.

“We’ve heard words and promises for a long time now, but words without action don’t make Ilkeston Market Place any safer. We want to see real progress and appropriate measures put in place before another tragedy happens.

“Everything we’ve done since losing Sam has been about making sure something positive comes from such a devastating loss. We can’t bring him back, but we hope we can help make the Market Place safer so that no other family has to experience what we have.”

Adam Thompson MP said: “This shouldn’t have taken months of chasing just to get a response. After meeting Samuel’s family in April, I hoped we’d see meaningful progress. Instead, months later, we’ve ended up with one possible barrier being considered, while the bigger safety questions remain unanswered.

“Ilkeston Market Place is one of the town’s busiest and most vital public spaces. People deserve clear, safe arrangements that put pedestrians first, not confusion over vehicle access and uncertainty about whether existing measures actually work.

“I’m asking Derbyshire County Council to undertake the comprehensive review this situation deserves. Samuel’s family have shown extraordinary determination throughout this campaign. They deserve answers, and Ilkeston deserves action.”