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Woman fears council is failing to protect people, after falling on black ice
A WOMAN who strained her neck after slipping on black ice fears Hillingdon Council is failing to protect people in the adverse weather conditions.
Joan O'Shea, 41, fell outside the Windmill Apartments in Pembroke Road, Ruislip Manor, on Saturday, January 2, after a leak underneath boards surrounding the complex froze, proving to be invisible after dark.
Mrs O'Shea, who lives in Ruislip Manor, said: "It was 6pm so I could not see the leak at all.
"I was very shaken up and my neck is really stiff, especially in the mornings, but I'm really lucky I didn't break something.
"My doctor has sent me for an X-ray at Mount Vernon to assess the damage, but it's a remote area and I'm very worried about falling again.
"A very kind couple, who got out of their car and insisted on giving me a lift home, said the leak had been there for several days. I don't know their names but I am very grateful for their help."
Concerned that someone else would fall foul of the ice, Mrs O'Shea says
she called the council the next day (Sunday) and left a message, but no one returned her call.
She said: "I later phoned Ruislip Manor police station, who said the council should put a barrier up to stop people walking there until the leak had been fixed.
"I called the council's out of office number, but the lady who answered gave me the impression she felt there was nothing they could do. She reluctantly agreed to pass the
information onto the highways agency.
"I can't believe the council would not want to do all they can to stop people injuring themselves very badly. I have not even had a call back to ask me how I am.
"I would normally read a story like this and think people should have been more careful, but at the time the ice wasn't showing, so no one could have been prepared for it.
"Hopefully this will prevent anyone else being injured or maybe even killed over the council's incompetence.
"I was lucky I didn't fall a few feet the other way into the path of a vehicle on the main road."
Mary Worrall, head of highways and green spaces, said: "Hazard boards were put up at the site as soon as the issue was reported to the council on Sunday evening, to warn people of the leak and potential ice.
"The council also alerted Veolia Water Three Valleys to the problem so that they could arrange for it to be fixed as soon as possible.
"We obviously want to help keep people as safe as possible in these extreme weather conditions and closing off the footpath by putting up barriers would have forced pedestrians to walk on the dual carriageway, which would be unsafe."
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