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Housewife concerned over Birtles plan takes own life
8/10/2008
A HOUSEWIFE who took her own life was "upset and worried" about a proposed affordable housing scheme opposite her Birtles Road home, an inquest heard.
Grandmother-of-two Janet Steen, 59, who had battled depression since suffering breast cancer, overdosed on prescription drugs, an inquest heard.
Her husband, Edwin, told deputy coroner Jean Harkin how mother-of-three Janet had been worried about plans by Jones Homes to build affordable housing across the road from their home.
Site manager Edwin told the inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall: "Janet was concerned about the housing and got very upset about it. She had a run in with a planning officer and got upset because she thought that she had made a fool of herself, but she hadn’t, she had just said what everyone else was thinking."
Mrs Harkin concluded Janet died from an overdose of prescription drugs on January 22 this year.
She said: "It’s clear to me that Janet took a number of tablets which proved fatal and left a suicide note which has been confirmed as hers here today. Janet took her own life. It’s a very sad and tragic case."
Rosalie Potts, 68, Janet’s neighbour on Birtles Road, was at a public meeting with Janet about the housing just before she died.
Speaking after the inquest, she said: "Janet was a lovely person who was just as concerned about the housing development as we all were.
"She valued the land very much, was concerned about the wildlife there and was enjoying her grandchildren and wanted to keep the area nice for when they came to visit. She was a quiet, gentle woman who never did an ounce of harm to anyone."
The inquest heard Janet tended to worry and had been taking anti-depressant Prothiaden tablets since 1987, after having breast cancer.
She had discussed stopping the medication with her GP, Dr R Heyworth, of Park Lane Surgery, but decided to continue taking it.
Confirming no suspicious circumstances, PC Craig Williams said he found empty tablet blister packs and a suicide note at Janet’s home after she died.
Edwin said: "Janet was a light sleeper and would often get up in the night, but on the night of her death she was up for most of the night. I was eating breakfast and heard a terrible noise coming from the bedroom."
She died in Macclesfield Hospital after Edwin had found her vomiting and still breathing, but unresponsive, with tablets next to the bed.
Edwin met Janet when she was 15 at a dance hall on King Edward Street, Macclesfield, and they were married in 1972.
At the inquest, he said she took pleasure in working with disadvantaged children, and added: "She was very happy being a grandparent and the children miss her very much."
An MBC spokesman said: "The Cabinet agreed at a meeting in August to continue discussions with Jones Homes about the 1.7 acre Birtles Road affordable housing scheme."
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Jeff
14/10/2008 at 20:29