11:30am Thursday 10th December 2009
A BAR in a Canvey retirement village where a pensioner died has reopened.
The Jack Rabbit bar, in Kings Park Village, was closed for 10 days following the death of Maureen Bignall, 65, who died from a heart attack.
She was found on the staircase leading into the bar, but it is unclear if she fell before or after suffering the heart attack.
Although the stairs are the only entrance to the bar, Dave Goldman, general manager of Kings Holiday Park, said it was safe to reopen.
He said: “The stairs have been seen by the environmental officer since Maureen died, and he said there is nothing wrong with them.
“It’s all we can do until we hear the result of the inquest, because at this stage no one knows what happened.”
Mr Goldman added the stairs were only closed as a mark of respect to Maureen, and were reopened on Wednesday, December 2.
Pam Challis, leader of Castle Point Council, said the authority was continuing to investigate the death from a health and safety perspective, but had no control over whether the stairs were reopened or not.
She said: “The site owners are responsible for closing or reopening the stairs, not Castle Point Council.”
The staircase in question is approximately 10ft in height and consists of 16 steps, with a larger step for resting about half way up.
An inquest into Mrs Bignall’s death will be held, but no date has been set.
Her funeral will be held on Monday, December 14, at Pitsea Crematorium from 11.20am.
Mrs Bignalls’s niece, Sue Aylward, 38, from Wickford, said: “Everyone who knew her and wants to come and pay their respects is welcome.
“I’m sure there will be a big attendance, because she was well-loved on Canvey.”
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