Cyclist hurt in fall on ‘dangerous’ canal bridge
ACCIDENT ON TEMPORARY RAMP SET UP DURING ISLAND QUARTER WORKS
A CARER has called for action to be taken on a “dangerous” bridge in Nottingham after he was injured when he fell with his bike.
Tony Richardson, 74, from Beeston, says he slipped on the temporary scaffold ramp on London Road in the Island Quarter last Thursday while heading home.
He was left with cuts, grazes and pain around his ribs after the fall, which also ripped his cycling shorts and left him embarrassed.
The retired IT worker is now calling for the bridge to be looked at to stop similar accidents.
He said his injuries have made being the full-time carer for his wife, Marilyn Richardson, 74, who has dementia, more difficult than usual.
He said: “A carer was in for a couple of hours so I thought I would go out on the bike. Normally I go along the River Trent to Long Eaton - which is usually safe.
“But I felt like a change so I went to Trent Bridge and down the Nottingham Canal and was riding back to Beeston, not knowing that this thing was going to be in front of me.
“I got off my bike and managed to negotiate the first part of it, which is the steeper you have to walk across.
“It’s very strange the way it’s been put together, I don’t know who on earth thought of it.
“I was taking it steady and walking down and my bike got caught on one of the ridges, so I released the brakes to try and move it, but it ran away from me and I slipped while trying to get it back under control – it took me with it all the way down.
“I landed across my handlebars and have been in constant pain after the accident.
“I don’t even know why it’s there, it’s dangerous. I’m a sensible 74-year-old bloke out for an afternoon ride, and even walking over it I came a cropper.”
Cyclists had previously criticised the same crossing earlier this year for being too steep.
It has been set up as part of construction works taking place on Canal Turn of The Island Quarter development as stepped access to the east side of the canal towpath was closed.
“I don’t know if I’m the first person to have an accident on it but I’ll surely not be the last if it’s left like that,” added Mr Robinson. “It really is a dangerous structure. I’m not clumsy at all and it could have done me some serious damage.”
Tony has said that his fall has made it difficult to care for his wife, because if the pain he is in.
He said: “I’m a full-time carer. I can’t afford to be clumsy because I have to make sure I come back in once piece because I have my wife who needs looking after.
“I’m really lucky I didn’t do any serious damage because that would have been nightmare, as I’m looking after my wife 99 per cent of the time and that would be a problem.”
Richard Watson, of Conygar, the developers for the Island Quarter, said: “Due to the ongoing work taking place at The Island Quarter development, alternative arrangements for accessing the canal towpath were put in place earlier this year in consultation with the Canal & River Trust and Nottingham City Council.
“This included the introduction of a ramp so that cyclists could still access the canalside by walking their bicycles over the ramp.
“Having listened to the original concerns of cyclists who felt the ramp was too steep, we consequently made a further £14,000 of improvements to the ramp in April to improve access. “This area is very close to a working building site which will provide major improvements for access to the canal upon completion next year. “The trust and Conygar have been working hard to ensure that the towpath could remain in use for the public, as the canal and its connectivity are an important part of our vision for the first phase of The Island Quarter development.
“We want to assure the public that this provision does meet safety requirements and that normal access will be resumed in the new year.”
I don’t know if I’m the first person to have an accident on it but I’ll surely not be the last if it’s left like that.
Tony Richardson