A Lincoln woman who says she suffered a fall in Sainsbury’s car park is calling on the supermarket to fix ‘various pot holes’ – but has been left disappointed by a lack of response on the issue.
Maria Taylor parked at the Tritton Road store before walking though an empty parking bay. She says her ankle rolled in the uneven ground which unbalanced her and she fell to the ground at around 3.50pm on January 23, 2022
Maria told The Lincolnite she is worried about other people hurting themselves in one of the ‘pot hole’ type dips in the car park, and wants something to be done about it. After the incident happened in January the area was coned off, but she says in the three times she has been back since it wasn’t.
There are multiple ‘pot hole’ type dips in the road in this area of the car park at Sainsbury’s on Tritton Road in Lincoln. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
Sainsbury’s said it is working closely with its maintenance teams to assess the car park and the space is coned off, although when The Lincolnite met Maria on site on Wednesday morning the cones were not yet in place.
At the time of the fall, Maria says she couldn’t get up due to the pain in her foot, ankle and knee and the duty manager, who is first aid trained, went to see her after being found by a witness. She completed an accident form before attempting a short drive home, but she spent “a very uncomfortable night as the pain in my foot and my knee kept me awake”.
Maria says the next day the swelling in her knee was still the same, and her foot was unbearable to walk on due to the pain. She went to A&E, and fortunately had no broken bones, but says she suffered soft tissue injuries.
The ‘pot hole’ that Maria believes caused her fall. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
However, she doesn’t feel Sainsbury’s has done enough since it happened and told The Lincolnite: “I am disgusted that they have both done anything. To date [March 9], I have not had a single call, letter or email from Sainsbury’s. I have contacted the store several times and have been reassured that the matter was being dealt with and to expect contact.
“I was passing just over a week later and asked to speak to the store manager. He was very apologetic for no-one being in touch and gave me a bunch of flowers as an apology for the company having not contacted me.”
Maria says she’s still waiting to hear back again about what will be done about the incident, and whether the car park will be fixed.
Her calls included last Saturday, March 5, when she told the store manager she was “disgusted, angry, and frustrated” at the lack of any contact.
“I told him that I would be seeking legal advice as I am now having to get my knee looked at by an orthopaedic specialist.
Showing the depth of the ‘pot holes’. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
She also told the supermarket she would be contacting the local media as nothing had been done about the ‘pot holes’. Within 48 hours of The Lincolnite contacting Sainsbury’s, the supermarket chain said its store colleagues would be in touch with Maria directly to provide an update about the car park and appease any further concerns she may have.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Safety is our highest priority. We are working closely with our maintenance teams to assess this area of the car park and the space is coned off in the meantime to prevent this from happening again.”
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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