The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Campaigners angry at latest threat to safety on danger road
Criticism over decision to add a new bus stop at accident spot
Angry campaigners have blasted bus bosses and council chiefs for adding a new stop at the Crieff accident scene where a bus once pinned a pedestrian against a wall.
The move has been described as “absurd and insensitive” by residents who are fighting to improve safety of Broich Road. They have been working to reduce the number of buses at a notorious town choke point outside St Dominic’s Primary School.
And they have calling for pavements and roads to be restructured to make junctions less tricky to negotiate.
Timetabling changes that have seen an increase in buses stopping on Broich Road, outside the school, have therefore been met with incredulity.
Crieff resident Lena Tocher was pinned against a wall on Broich Road on November 6 2015 after a Stagecoach bus mounted a pavement.
She was taken to intensive care following the crash and placed in an induced coma as medics treated her for severe crush injuries.
At the time, those injuries were said to include lacerated kidneys and liver, a broken femur, shattered pelvis, a bruised and bleeding heart and broken bones in her back. Ms Tocher is still fighting the effects to this day.
Road safety campaigner and former Crieff Community Council chairman, Craig Finlay said: “I have campaigned to try to get four of St Dominic’s minibuses removed from Broich Road in order to avoid congestion for other road users and pedestrians at the point which they park.
“We know this spot is dangerous. Given that, I find it absurd and insensitive that Stagecoach has now added this stop to their route.”
Mr Finlay said it would take just one visit to the stretch of road to see many of the problems illustrated.
“These four minibuses, when parked up in a long line, cause significant chaos on the road from 3.15pm, for 25 minutes.
“On one day I counted 70 cars passing this line of traffic, two very large HGV’s and a tractor and trailer, while a number of cyclists also passed.”
Mr Finlay asked the council and Stagecoach to rethink the location of the bus stop and recommit to working with the community to improve safety.
Stagecoach East Scotland said the issue was for Perth and Kinross Council but said there had been some issues locally as a result of “timetable changes”.
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Council officers are currently liaising with Stagecoach about this matter and will also visit the site to determine if any action is required.”
I find it absurd and insensitive that Stagecoach has now added this stop to their route. CAMPAIGNER CRAIG FINLAY