A BRIDGWATER resident is concerned that not enough consideration is being given to mobility scooter users at Bridgwater Retail Park.

Sally Jones is a regular visitor to the Retail Park but says she has safety concerns when she goes to do her shopping, especially since work has been undertaken to revamp the area.

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She has concerns over two particular blindspots on the retail park, and another area where there are no drop kerbs and so she is forced into the road if she wants to visit certain shops.

“The blindspots make it very, very difficult and dangerous in places. You cannot see over the hedge to know if a car is coming,” Mrs Jones said.

“The design at the moment is not disabled-friendly – if you want to get past the new M&S Food Hall to Currys and PC World you have to go out into the road.”

The first of Sally’s concerns relates to the drop kerb opposite Lidl, which has a hedgerow which limits visibility - even more so for someone in a mobility scooter.

It also means motorists coming out of the car park may not able to see someone on a mobility scooter until very late.

Fellow mobility scooter user Betty Williams, 88, of Chilton Street, echoed Sally’s sentiments.

“There are a couple of spots that are very dangerous, it is difficult to see in certain spots,” Betty said.

Sally has also had concerns over the temporary hoardings that have been in place outside the new M&S Food Hall while works take place.

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This has meant the pavement cannot be accessed and if Sally wants to get across she has to go into the car park and is faced with another difficult blindspot.

The M&S Food Hall site manager said the hoardings would be down within two weeks, and a construction worker at the site offered to put up a temporary plywood ramp where drop-kerbs were lacking.

A spokesman for retail park owner LasSelle Investment Management, said: “The redevelopment will address the issues raised by improving visibility and accessibility for all including disabled and those with buggies. 

“A number of wider pavements with dropped kerbs and pedestrian crossing points are being introduced. 

“Any issues around M&S are clearly short term and we will look into how we can help.”