Family Hurt In Hoarding Collapse

Construction firms have been urged by a leading injury lawyer to ensure their work is carried out to a standard that does not put the public in danger.

Katrina Elsey, who specialises in public liability claims, made the call after Wates Construction and Dean Lotwick - who trades as Hammerwich Construction - were fined over an incident which saw a family injured when a shop hoarding collapsed.

A two-year-old child, his father and grandparents were left with cuts and bruises when a hoarding outside a new shop at the Racecourse Retail Park at Aintree overturned. Wates and Mr Lotwick have been fined £4,000 each in relation to the incident, with design flaws meaning the hoarding could not withstand the wind.

Irwin Mitchell’s Katrina Elsey said: “This case will have undoubtedly been painful and distressing for all involved, particularly when it comes to the involvement of a two-year-old child.

“I hope that lessons are learnt from the incident and all construction firms take careful note of this incident.

“Firms must place the safety of both employees and the public right at the top of their agendas.”