Calls for Doncaster Council to act as uneven paving at shopping precinct sees elderly visitors fall

Elderly visitors to a neighbourhood shopping precinct in Doncaster have suffered falls and near misses due to uneven paving slabs.

Residents visiting the cafes, bakeries and other businesses on Nostell Place in Bessacarr, Doncaster, have called for the City of Doncaster Council to take action and make the walkways safe again.

Audrey Turner, who was visiting the St Francis Church cafe with husband Ron, said: “A lot of the pavings are up a little bit. My husband has had to just get hold of my scooter and right himself, but he’s nearly gone.”

A spokeperson for Doncaster Council said the authority was ‘aware of concerns’ about paving at Nostell Place, but added that not all of the shopping precinct are public highway and are to be maintained by private owners or local shops instead.

Audrey said younger residents often get away with it, but it can be harder for elderly visitors to stay on their feet. She said a number of visitors to the church cafe had recently seen a local man trip and fall down.

Husband Ron Turner added: “Around here there’s more old people than anything and you’re not good on your feet.”

Mary Smyth said nearby Stoops Lane was also very uneven and tree roots had grown through the paving.

“[They need] to level it off and make it safer or replace all the slabs,” she said.

“Everyone with mobility scooters is riding on the road to escape it,” she added.

The council spokesperson said: “Our teams have been reviewing the site in response to what residents have told us here and have carried out safety inspections.

“Where necessary, and where the council is responsible for maintaining the pavements, we will of course prioritise repair works.

“We take the safety of people travelling through Doncaster very seriously and will continue to monitor the situation here, working with all relevant parties.”

The issue has become a priority for local Conservative councillor, Nick Allen, who believes the last investment in Nostell Place could have been a decade ago.

He said: “A number of residents have emailed me over the last few months, in fact over the last year I’ve had quite a few people tell me they’ve had accidents, they’ve tripped or they’ve fallen.

“I would personally love to see the whole Nostell Place precinct repaved with nice cobblestones, like what we see in Doncaster at Waterdale. I think it will enhance the look and it will make things safe. Those are the two most important things.”