Bath building firm fined £56k after school wall collapse kills employee

A Bath-based building company has been fined more than £56,000 after an employee was crushed to death when a retaining wall collapsed onto him.

Gary Anstey, who died following the wall collapse in Bath | Photo courtesy of Avon & Somerset Police

57-year-old Gary Anstey was working for H. Mealing & Sons Limited at Swainswick Primary School in March 2019 when the 1.8m high wall fell.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Batheaston building firm failed to properly plan and supervise the construction of the retaining wall at the school.

This led to it becoming unstable when a large load of aggregate was placed against the incomplete wall, which had not been supported.

HSE requires that any temporary structure must be designed and installed to withstand any loads placed against it and that it is used in accordance with its design.

This includes ensuring appropriately trained operatives are provided with a suitable written design and plan to install to ensure the structure remains stable.

The wall collapsed during work at Swainswick Primary School | Photo © Health and Safety Executive

In a victim personal statement, Gary’s wife, Anne Anstey, said: “Gary’s workplace should have been a safe place to work – he should have come home as he always did – and now he hasn’t been here to celebrate all the family milestones and that is something that we as a family have to live with.”

She added: “Gary was 57 years old when he died. He was always full of life and he had recently become a grandad for the first time.

“He has missed Scarlett grow up into a funny loving girl and missed out on the celebration of Scott and his wife buying their first house, all the children starting school and many other milestones in our lives.”

Mealing & Sons Limited of Northend, Batheaston, Bath pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £56,775 and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 11th September 2025.

HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “This was a horrific incident which had heartbreaking consequences.

“It happened because of a lack of planning and coordination, which is all too common in construction activity.

“With simple clear procedures and appropriate training this incident would not have happened.”