A woman who broke her leg after tripping on Hereford’s infamous Widemarsh Street kerb says she is going to sue the council.
Mandy Pridham, 46, from Leominster fell after tripping and rolling her ankle while walking along the city centre street several weeks ago.
Several days later, she realised the fall had actually broken her leg and went to Hereford County Hospital for treatment.
She is so incensed at Herefordshire Council’s inaction over the trip hazard that she is considering taking out legal action against them.
A freedom of information request revealed last year that more than 100 people had reported falling along the street since the pavement was installed in 2011.
However, despite so many reported falls by the public the council has defended the kerb citing road safety reasons.
Ms Pridham said: “The orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital told me they are always treating people who trip up on Widemarsh Street.
“I was walking from High Town towards Primark and rolled my ankle along the kerb and fell over.
“It was on a Friday and I can remember getting up and I hobbled along.”
She said the pain did not go down over the weekend and it wasn’t until the Monday that she went into hospital.
“I went to A&E and had an x-ray. It was a clean break.
“I contacted the council’s highways department about my fall and the lady I spoke to said ‘well the kerb has been there for almost 10 years’.
“She then said she was not the person who should deal with her enquiry and put me through to another person but they never answered.
“I left a message but they never got back to me.”
Infrastructure and transport cabinet member John Harrington said the council will soon carry out a review of the city centre.
“We are very sorry to hear of Ms Pridham’s fall and wish her a full and speedy recovery,” he said.
“The refurbishment of Widemarsh Street in 2011 is in accordance with national design standards and involved consultation with a large number of stakeholders.
“We will be carrying out a review of the city centre shortly and this will include an assessment of Widemarsh Street.”
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