Pallet of stones prevents woman getting to work

Cameron Weldon
BBC News, South West
BBC A woman is standing on a back street beside a wooden pallet that is leaning against a concrete wall. She is dressed in a yellow cardigan with a white top and yellow trousers. BBC
Marie Swords said where the pallet was left made it "impassable"

A woman from Plymouth has said she was unable to get to work for two days due to a delivery of a pallet of stones blocking the front of her garage.

Marie Swords, 71, said she couldn't get her car out of her property on Victoria Road, St Budeaux, after delivery company Gregory Distribution left an 80kg (12st 8lb) bag of stones "in the middle of the road" that was meant for a neighbour.

Ms Swords said the majority of her street was affected and efforts were made to move the pallet but she said it weighed "a ton of bricks".

Gregory Distribution apologised for the "inconvenience caused" and said it "took action to resolve the situation as quickly as possible" and moved the pallet the following day.

Marie Swords A pallet of stones in a big white bag. It's on a concrete back street with buildings and garages either side. Marie Swords
She said her neighbours on either side of her property also couldn't get out

Ms Swords said her garage backs onto a small lane shared by two streets and said where the pallet was left made it "impassable".

"I couldn't swing my car out, without scraping it" she added.

She said she worked in Cornwall and not working for two days resulted in a "loss of earnings".

"They moved it the following lunchtime but it was too late for me to get down to work," she added.

Ms Swords said the lane was just wide enough for a car and "the pallet was three quarters of the way across the lane".

Gregory Distribution said its delivery driver "acted on the instruction of the customer receiving the pallet."

It said it was "aware of the small network of roads and does its utmost to ensure as little inconvenience is caused during deliveries."

It added that Ms Swords was offered £100 as a gesture of goodwill.

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