Blind Woman Fears Roads After Devastating Fall

A blind woman has expressed her fear of crossing roads following a fall into a pothole in December. The incident in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, has significantly affected her confidence. Although the pothole and damaged pavements were reported, an initial assessment deemed them not urgent, leading to delays in repairs on Milehouse Lane. Repairs were finally completed on Wednesday, with a council spokesperson offering an apology for the incident.

The 58-year-old woman described the foot injury as severe, emphasizing that her guide dog, Poppy, is trained to detect obstacles like cars, not potholes. She expressed her desire to regain confidence in navigating her community independently. Concerns were also raised about how the fall might have impacted her training with Poppy, as a severe injury could have necessitated the dog being reassigned.

Guide Dogs charity stated that a broken ankle would have led to the reassignment of Poppy, as the dog could not work during the owner's recovery. This would have resulted in the woman returning to a lengthy waiting list for another dog. Due to the pavement conditions and parking issues, the woman was advised to seek assistance from others when crossing roads, compromising her independence.

A council representative acknowledged the apology and confirmed the completion of repairs. They explained that reported defects are assessed for severity, with urgent issues addressed within 24 hours, while minor ones are repaired as resources permit. The council is investing an additional £15 million to address its pothole backlog and improve road conditions.