Shock as pane of glass falls on man’s head in Kingsland Centre
A pane of glass fell on a man’s head in Thatcham’s Kingsland Centre this morning (Wednesday).
The shopping centre walkway is partly covered by a glass canopy.
And today, at around 9.10am, a full glass panel fell over customers at Kingsland Café.
Shopkeepers and passers-by saw the ordeal as the panel fell on individuals – one of whom was in a wheelchair.
Amy Jury, a hairdresser at Envy Hairdressing in Kingsland Centre, witnessed the incident and went out to help the individuals with her colleagues.
“It was a whole pane of glass,” she said.
“There was glass in his lap, in his shoes, in his hood.
“People have come to clear up the glass now but it was really quite scary.”
She said first aiders from Waitrose came down to lend a hand too.
Newburytoday has been told that Kingsland Cafe and Costa Coffee have since closed amid safety fears from glass on the floor.
Tenants and businesses have told Newburytoday that the canopy was meant to be refurbished.
They said the work was meant to last six weeks – between July and September.
An owner of another store in the shopping centre said a metal pole – that holds the glass panels together – has also fallen.
He said it flew off and blew around the centre following a storm in October last year and Evolve were notified of the safety concern.
But the Kingsland Centre canopy work has still not been completed – six months on.
A spokesperson for the Kingsland Centre said: “We are aware of an incident that took place at the Kingsland Centre today.
“Contractors are on site and have quickly made the area safe for tenants and visitors, whose wellbeing is our priority.
“We are committed to enhancing the centre and are investing in improvements to ensure it continues to provide a positive shopping experience for local people.”