The incident happened on Saturday, January 4 at 1pm when Diane Inglis, 69, was walking along with her husband on Station Road.
She tripped and fell over the manhole cover, which is outside the Sameet News convenience store.
The fall left the Eden Park resident with facial injuries and bruising, which required hospital treatment.
She says she reported the incident to Bromley Council twice but was told that it “did not meet with the council’s investigatory levels” and that no further action would be taken.
Diane told the News Shopper: “I fell over the slab, one corner is particularly higher than the rest, around an inch above the pavement.
“I was just so shocked, and I burst into tears – the people in the shop wanted to call an ambulance but I said no, I was shaken up.
“I’ve spoken with Bromley Council to report it, and had an email back saying it wasn’t their problem, it was TfL’s.
“The following day I got another email saying it wasn’t TfL’s problem, it was theirs [Bromley Council’s] and if I wanted to, I could make another report on FixMyStreet.”
FixMyStreet is an online platform where residents can report local issues, such as potholes or broken streetlights, to their local council for investigation and resolution.
The website FixMyStreet provided an update on the incident, stating: “We have investigated this report and found it does not meet LBB investigatory levels.
“No further action will be taken at this time.”
Following her fall, Diane expressed concern for other residents in the area, particularly the elderly.
She said: “There’s a lot of elderly people who live in West Wickham and we’re right on the border with Beckenham – you have a retirement home there a bit further on.
“I was just thinking I am robust, but if it had happened to someone more fragile the injuries could be so much worse.
Diane told the News Shopper that she did not initially seek medical attention but went to the hospital the following day after waking up with a swollen face and black eyes.
She said: “They were shocked with how I looked, I had various scans on my face and nothing was broken or cracked.
“They just said I was very lucky.”
Despite the incident, Diane remains hopeful that the council will take action.
She said: “I just want them to do the right thing – just sort out that slab.”
Bromley Council did not respond to our request for comment.
