12:00pm Wednesday 28th July 2010
By Jen Rivett
WORK to replace pavements at a new shopping complex will start next week – following a flurry of complaints.
Simons Development, the developer behind the £50m Marriotts Walk centre in Witney vowed to carry out the work after a number of incidents.
Last month wheelchair-user Freddie Mahony fell from his chair after going over a drain cover, which was not flush with the pavement.
Now work to repair 10 per cent of the paving is set to begin on Monday, which should also solve problems with drain covers, the company said.
Spokesman Alex Blakelock said: “We will have repair works completed as quickly as we can, with minimal disruption. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”
Oxfordshire County Council has received 20 complaints about the pavements since the complex opened nine months ago.
Mr Mahony, 32, of Court Gardens, who lost the use of both his legs in a motorbike accident 13 years ago, was pushing himself into the entrance of Marriotts Walk, from Welch Way, when his £3,500 chair went over a drain cover, which he says was 17mm above the pavement, causing him to be flung from his chair.
The two front wheels of the chair – which was paid for by charities in the town – buckled, causing about £100 worth of damage.
Mr Mahony is seeking compensation from Kandahar, the company which manages the shopping centre.
He said: “I don’t have the sort of money to get it fixed.
“I have an old wheelchair which I am using, but it’s old and heavy and makes me very tired to use. I just want my new wheelchair fixed.”
Of the incident, he said: “I turned into Marriotts Walk to go to Marks and Spencer to get a coffee. My chair stopped – and I literally flew out. A lady had to help me back into my chair.”
Since the shopping centre opened in October, the developers have been plagued with complaints about the state of its pavements.
In March, pensioner Janet Berry was left in plaster after she fell outside the development.
Widow Mrs Berry, 68, of Wadards Meadow, Witney, was walking along Welch Way when she tripped on a hole in the pavement.
She was taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, where her left hand was put in a splint with two broken knuckles.
Paving will be replaced at the service yard entrances of Marriotts Walk and a footpath to the front of the development.
Last night no one from Kandahar was available for comment on Mr Mahoney’s complaint.
Lynne Shawyer, Marriotts Walk manager, said: “I can confirm that the matter is being progressed through the appropriate channels.”
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