A woman has died after tripping on a pothole near Mansfield, it has been revealed.
Beryl Barrett died on Christmas Day, a week after getting her walking stick stuck in a pothole outside Warsop Town Hall on Church Street, on December 19.
In Parliament today, Wednesday, 21 January, Mansfield MP Steve Yemm told the House of Commons about Ms Barrett’s death while asking Prime Minister Keir Starmer whether he agreed that it was “time” for Nottinghamshire County Council to fix the roads.
He said: “In my constituency of Mansfield, there are literally thousands of potholes which Nottinghamshire County Council is failing to repair. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that it’s time the council took action to repair our roads?”
Replying, Mr Starmer said: “It shows why tackling potholes really matters. We’re investing £2 billion in the East Midlands to fix the roads and improve local transport.
“We’re also putting in place tough new standards so that councils must prove they’re fixing roads properly. I’m pleased many Labour councils across the country are leading by example.”
Mr Yemm then also asked the Prime Minister whether he would meet Ms Barrett’s family “to ensure that no accidents like this happen again.”
The Prime Minister said: “Can I send my deepest sympathies to Beryl’s family. I will make sure that the Roads Minister meets the family at the earliest opportunity.”
Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a resident in Warsop in December, and our thoughts are with their family and friends.
“Any reports of incidents on our highways resulting in injury are taken extremely seriously and are investigated to establish the circumstances in which they occurred.
“In this case, we do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further until any relevant investigations have taken place.”
