A tragic incident in Nottinghamshire has highlighted the urgent need for road repairs across the region, after an elderly woman died following a fall caused by a pothole. Beryl Barrett, a woman in her 80s, is believed to have fallen after her walking stick became stuck in a pothole outside Warsop Town Hall in Warsop, Nottinghamshire, on December 19. She subsequently broke her hip and passed away a week later on December 26.
MP Raises Constituent's Death in Parliament
Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, raised the death of his constituent during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, directly addressing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He stated it was time to 'take action' on the deteriorating condition of roads in his constituency. Mr Yemm expressed his condolences to the family and highlighted the thousands of unrepaired potholes in Mansfield that Nottinghamshire County Council has failed to address.
Political Response and Demands
In his emotional address to the House of Commons, Mr Yemm asked the Prime Minister if he agreed that the council must take immediate action to repair the roads. He also requested a meeting between the Prime Minister and Beryl Barrett's family to work towards preventing similar accidents in the future. The Prime Minister responded by offering his deepest sympathies to the family and committing to arrange a meeting with the roads minister at the earliest opportunity.
Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of tackling potholes, announcing a £2 billion investment in the East Midlands to fix roads and improve local transport. He also mentioned the implementation of new standards requiring councils to prove they are properly repairing roads.
Community Outcry and Local Council Reactions
The incident has sparked significant concern within the local community. A minute's silence was held in memory of Mrs Barrett at the Warsop Parish Council meeting on Monday. The Parish Council issued a statement expressing their thoughts and sincere condolences to Mrs Barrett's loved ones, acknowledging residents' concerns about the condition of local roads and pavements. These concerns have been formally raised with the County Council representative.
Councillor Bert Bingham, cabinet member for transport and environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, stated that his thoughts were with Barrett's family. However, he indicated that the authority does not feel it is appropriate to comment further until any relevant investigations have been completed.
Broader Context and Campaign for Change
This tragic event occurs amidst an ongoing campaign by MP Steve Yemm to address road safety issues in Mansfield and the surrounding areas. He has launched a new public petition urging Nottinghamshire Council to take decisive action and ensure public money is spent effectively on road repairs. Speaking to the Mansfield Chad, Mr Yemm expressed his anger that another community member has suffered injury and death due to road degradation, confirming he has met with Beryl's family to offer his personal condolences.
The case underscores a critical national issue regarding infrastructure maintenance and public safety, putting pressure on local authorities to prioritise and expedite essential repairs to prevent further tragedies.
