Safety concerns shared again over risk to Meadowhall workers walking to staff car park after dark

They have been raised previously but this time a Meadowhall worker has taken to Facebook to share her concerns in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in London.

The 33-year-old disappeared as she walked home from a friend’s house near Clapham Common and her remains were later found in Kent.

A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with kidnap and murder.

Claire Bardon, who works at Meadowhall, used Facebook to share her concerns about the safety of Meadowhall staff who leave their cars on a designated car park provided to avoid them taking up spaces intended for shoppers.

Claire said: “I work in Meadowhall, a shopping centre with ample free parking spaces, none of which staff are allowed to use.

“We have to park a 5-10 minute walk away over main roads without crossings, over a bridge over dark water and past numerous bushes to get to the staff car park.

“In the run up to Christmas, staff work until 11pm, having to do this walk late at night.

“I don't think anyone should have to walk to this car park at night, male or female. There is ample parking straight outside the shopping centre that staff should be able to use too. We get parking tickets and threatened with court action if we do park in the customer car parks, even though we always spend money there.

“I think things need to change here.”

A spokesperson for Meadowhall said: “We take on board all feedback from our customers and colleagues, and their safety and wellbeing is our number one priority.

“We want everyone to feel safe making their way to and from our centre, and encourage anyone using our staff car park to use the dedicated footpath which is fully lit and monitored with CCTV 24 hours a day.

“The car park already has dedicated security marshals and we will be increasing this provision to provide further comfort to our colleagues in the coming weeks.

“We also work closely with our onsite community policing team to ensure the safety of everyone visiting and working in our centre.”

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