An ‘angry’ pensioner is demanding a pub bench be removed after he hurt himself tripping over it.
Graham Woodward, 66, has suffered with hip pain ever since he fell outside the Rolleston Arms on Commercial Road in Swindon.
He has appealed to the borough council to remove the bench as he believes it is ‘dangerous’ for the public.
Speaking to the Swindon Advertiser, Graham said he could have easily been knocked over by a car if one passed by after he hit the floor.
He was helped to his feet by kind members of the public – but he says his injuries have forced him to give up daily walks with wife Shirley.
The pensioner has not booked a hospital appointment to fix his hip pain because he is ‘scared’ of the coronavirus outbreak, as cases rocket by 167% across England.
He said: ‘I’m quite angry at the whole situation, the bench is right on the corner and is dangerous.
The bench has been outside of the Rolleston Arms for years
‘I can’t walk anywhere that’s a great distance because of my hip hurting, which is annoying because me and my wife love to go on walks.’
Violet McLaren, manager of the Rolleston Arms, has refused to remove the bench, insisting it poses no problems to passersby.
Claiming the pub has a license to put furniture outside, she added: ‘The furniture doesn’t obstruct the pavement, there’s plenty of room, so I don’t know how he didn’t see it. The benches have been outside the Rolleston for years.’
Graham has made a complaint to the borough council about the bench but a council spokesman said they do not have the power to make the owners move it.
The spokesman said: ‘The land directly in front of the Rolleston Arms is not public highway where the seating is provided outside so does not require a highway pavement licence.’
