KAMIKAZE ducks, perilous car parks and rogue spanners were included in a number of accidents reported to a council.

It was attack of the quackers in the Maldon district this spring, as Maldon District Council’s finance and corporate services committee revealed a flying duck to be one of the accidents, near misses and unacceptable behaviour reported between April 30 and June 1.

A total of ten accidents were reported during the period, which included a number of people falling into the new extended car park at the council’s offices of Princes Road.

The accidents recorded were:

  • A member of the public falling in the new extension to the car park at the council’s offices in Princes Road. Previously, two members of staff and another member of the public have fallen in the new extension
  • A member of the public fell over in the overflow car park
  • A member of council staff hurt their toe as a swivel chair ran over it
  • A member of staff hurt their head on a column as they bent over
  • Two members of staff and a member of the public in the TIC received cuts to fingers from various stationery items
  • A member of staff was hurt off site when a duck flew into her
  • A member of the park’s team was hurt when a spanner hit him in the face whilst changing a blade on a lawn mower.

The report highlighted that due to the huge number of people falling into the car park, safety measures must improve.

It said: “Due to the number of accidents in the new car park extension improvement measures are required to prevent further falls.

“The last three quarters have shown an increase in the number of unacceptable behaviour incidents.

“Conflict management training has been organised targeting new members of staff or those who have not had this type of training previously.”

Emma Foy, Director of Resources at the council, said: “We are concerned that falls have taken place since the creation of the new car parking area at the council offices, we are looking in to the root cause of these incidents and  how best to prevent further reoccurrences.

"Measures such as additional lighting and yellow paint are currently being considered and costed. It is important to us to protect both staff and visitors to the council offices”.