A DISABLED woman has slammed safety measures in Middlewich after she is forced into the middle of a busy road on a daily basis.


Victoria Perez, who lives on Ventnor Close in Middlewich, claims that a pavement outside the White Horse pub on Lewin Street, which has no kerb and is completely taken up by unstable cellar doors is a huge hazard and could soon end badly. 


Victoria said: “It sinks right into the pavement and I physically can’t go over it so I have to go into the road to get past and it is really dangerous. 


“It looks as if it is going to give way and I think someone will get seriously hurt if nothing is done about it.


“It is dangerous to anyone walking over it but it easy for most people to dodge it. People in wheelchairs or with child pushchairs have no choice but to either go over it and risk it giving way or going into the busy road.”


Cheshire East Council has deflected blame for the dangerous pathway, stating that responsibility to make it safer lies with the pub.


A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “Responsibility for the maintenance of cellar covers rests with the adjacent property owner, in this case the White Horse public house.

 
“Cheshire East Highways has powers to ensure that any maintenance work required to keep the highway safe is carried out. 


“Arrangements will be made to inspect this cover and if necessary, a letter will be sent to the property to request that it be repaired or replaced as required.” 


Despite the statement from Cheshire East Council, councillor for the Middlewich Ward, Cllr Mike Parsons, is not happy with the response.


Cllr Parsons said: “I went to have a look with Victoria and it really is very, very bad. As Victoria was saying if anybody tries to go over it they could go crashing through to the cellar floor below.


“Cheshire East says it is the responsibility of the pub to sort out but that is not going to solve anything because they will fix the cellar doors but it will back they way it is now within weeks.


“They need to take responsibility and bring the pavement out into the road and make a give-way system. It will give people room to walk around without risking their safety and solve so many problems.”


The Guardian has attempted to contact the White Horse pub several times without response.