Woman, 92, died after fall

AN elderly woman died in a care home after suffering a fall in which she broke her hip, an inquest has heard.

Edith Massey, 92, was a resident at Barrowhill Hall Nursing Home in Rocester.

She suffered a fall and died weeks later on Sunday, April 5.

An inquest found the fall, in which she broke her left hip, played a significant role.

Senior coroner Andrew Haigh recorded a verdict of “accident” and a medical cause of death as end-stage dementia, contributed to by a fractured neck of left femur and hypertension.

Mr Haigh wrote: “A significant factor in the death was a broken left hip she had sustained in a fall at her home.”

COUNCIL bosses say they will “neither confirm nor deny” whether the authority is in talks over a potential permanent traveller site near Ashbourne.

In October, Derbyshire Dales District Council revealed that a secret one-acre site is a potential solution for the area’s decades-long search.

Since then, campaigners and parish councillors in Clifton believe they have identified the “secret” site as a coal yard metres from the Shrovetide goal.

Talks with the anonymous landowner of the unconfirmed site are said to be ongoing but had also said to have been progressing “very speedily” eight months ago.

The site said to be able to cater for nine traveller pitches - the total the district must find by 2034.

Clifton Parish Council submitted a question to the council’s first virtual meeting last week, asking for the authority to confirm or deny discussions on the site and the status of those talks.

In response, Cllr Garry Purdy, leader of the district council said: “The council has carefully considered its position in relation to the need to deliver a permanent traveller site in line with the Local Plan. In response to a number of Freedom of Information requests the council has declined to provide information on specific sites on the grounds that to do so would be likely to prejudice effective conduct of public affairs.

“The same reasoning applies to this question and therefore the council can neither confirm