Cyclist hit by tractor in Coupar Angus

Jul 12 2012 by Clare Damodaran, Blairgowrie Adv

Cyclist hit by tractor in Coupar Angus

A CYCLIST has been hit by a tractor in Coupar Angus just days after Coupar Angus Community Council called on Perth and Kinross Council to reconsider a proposed relief road in the town.

Tayside Police confirmed that they had attended an incident in Coupar Angus.

A spokesperson said: “Tayside Police attended a report of a road traffic collision involving a cyclist and a tractor in Queen Street at about 4.20pm on Sunday.”

As was reported in last week’s Blairie, the community council believes that the A923 needs a relief road due to the increasingly high volume of traffic on Queen Street, particularly during rush hour.

The narrowness of the road near the junction with the A94 makes it hazardous for pedestrians when large lorries and agricultural vehicles have to pass each other, which often results in one or both vehicle mounting the pavement.

Jo Kettles, community council secretary, lives just off Queen Street and was one of the first on the scene following the accident.

She said: “It was two berry pickers from one of the local farms. They were cycling on the pavement on Queen Street. As far as I understand it, the tractor caught one of the bikes.

“The police and an ambulance were called and the girl was taken to hospital. She was badly bruised and needed stitches.

“I’m not blaming the driver, I’m not blaming the cyclist. I’m blaming the road.

“They were on the widest part of the pavement and this happened on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

“I have contacted our local councillor, Perth and Kinross Council and John Swinney and told them what has happened. The relief road has to be reinstated as part of the local development plan even if we have to start fundraising ourselves - it is that desperate. And if the road doesn’t go back on the plan then something else needs to be done in the short term.”

Local ward councillor for the area, Dennis Melloy, agreed that something needs to be done.

He said: “It is clear that a bypass is required as this junction is a difficult bottle neck, especially at peak times. It is unfortunate that the period for representations on the local development plan closed in April, however I will be seeking a meeting with planning to discuss a way forward as this relief road was included in the 1998 plan and the 2005 draft plan.”

One Queen Street resident said: “A big tractor and trailer was taking strawberries into town. If lorries are sitting at the lights and another lorry comes the other way it has to go on the pavement.

“A bypass is really needed for the heavy vehicles to get off this bit of road.”

The Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 4.16pm on Sunday concerning a 24-year-old female whose bike was involved in an incident with a tractor. She was taken to Ninewells Hospital.”