An elderly woman who was left with a broken hip following an accident in a Derbyshire town has urged two councils to act – as the wait for repairs continues after more than two years.

Janet Leatherland suffered an accident in May 2024 while using her mobility scooter along Main Street, Shirebrook. The 76-year-old struck a large stone that was sticking out onto the pavement and was thrown from her scooter into the middle of the road - and the fall left her with a broken hip.

She said: “I was on my scooter and didn’t see any hazards on the left hand side for me to worry about. I was concentrating on where I was going, and next thing I knew, I had tipped over and fallen into the main road. I waited an hour and a half in the rain for an ambulance, and spent three weeks in hospital while they repaired my broken hip.

“As I was laid in the busy road waiting for the ambulance, if it wasn’t for the gentleman who stopped to see if I was okay - and the two strangers who closed the road - I could have easily been run over.”

Janet, pictured here, has called on DCC and BDC to act following her accident in 2024.

placeholder image — Janet, pictured here, has called on DCC and BDC to act following her accident in 2024.

Janet, who lives in Shirebrook, reported the incident to Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council - with each council initially claiming that the other was responsible for the land where the accident took place.

She said: “We then started the process with the councils. I contacted Bolsover District Council (BDC) when I got home, and they said it wasn’t anything to do with them and we needed to contact Derbyshire County Council (DCC).

“We had no response from DCC at all, and in November, we decided to go down the route of getting a solicitor. We discussed it with them and decided to put in a claim with both councils. They had found that DCC were blaming BDC because the stone was on land belonging to them. BDC were blaming DCC because it was on the pavement, so the issue came under the highways department.”

Janet had hoped to secure compensation following the accident, and has continued to push for repairs to be completed along the section of Main Street where she suffered her accident. She said that, despite receiving correspondence from DCC, the works have yet to be carried out nearly two and half years later.

Janet Leatherland suffered an accident in May 2024 while using her mobility scooter along Main Street, Shirebrook. The 76-year-old struck this large stone that was sticking out onto the pavement and was thrown from her scooter into the middle of the road - and the fall left her with a broken hip.

She said: “That has been the entire story for the last two and a half years. Our solicitor dropped the case after going to a barrister in April 2026. The barrister said there was no point in continuing and I didn’t stand a chance at getting any compensation.

“Since then, I’ve been contacting both councils. BDC said they had removed the object, but that they weren’t liable. My son went to take fresh photos from where I had my accident and the object was still there. They then decided that they didn’t want to discuss it with me, and it was up to me to discuss it with DCC. We then went through the same thing with DCC.

“I’ve been in contact with councillors from BDC and DCC - both of them have issued stock answers saying I need to discuss it with the other council. I just feel like I’m hitting my head against a brick wall.

“DCC are supposed to be responsible for highways and pavements, but they just won’t accept responsibility. DCC have, however, sent me emails saying that they’ve commissioned for the work to be done to repair the pavement, and they’ll let me know when it has been completed. I’ve had four of those since my accident and it still hasn’t happened.”

Janet was left with a broken hip after falling from her mobility scooter in Shirebrook.

Janet’s accident has left her almost completely housebound - and she said this had also had an impact on her mental health.

Jane added: “I’m practically housebound now and I can’t put any weight on my leg. The operation that I should have had was cancelled back in August.

“I’m disappointed in their attitude and how I’ve been treated. How the accident has impacted me doesn’t matter to them. I used to be very independent, but I can’t even take my dog out for a walk now - I now have to pay someone to do that for me. There’s extra costs that I’ve had as well. It’s been two and a half years and I’ve been so isolated.”

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “The landowner is responsible for the maintenance of the wall and we are working to ensure they make it safe as soon as possible. We continue to carry out regular safety inspections in the area.”

Bolsover District Council did not issue a response after being approached by the Derbyshire Times.