Lorry hits one of country’s ‘most struck bridges’
Councillor calls for more prosecutions
A Perth councillor is calling for action after yet another lorry struck the low rail bridge above Perth’s Tay Street.
The bridge was recently branded as one of the most struck bridges in Scotland.
And a city centre councillor believes there is “no excuse” and is calling for “firm action” and prosecution of drivers.
Around 3.50pm on Sunday, October 31 a B&M lorry collided with the bridge.
The area was temporarily cordoned off and the railway line to Dundee was closed while safety checks were carried out.
Elaine Blair, who took the photographs, said on Twitter: “The shelves at B&M Perth might be a little empty next week. Lorry versus Bridge.”
In 2019 Perth and Ki n ross Conservatives submitted a Freedom of Information request which found the rail bridge over Tay Street was struck 17 times in five and a half years - between April 2013 and November 2018.
And following this latest incident Perth City Centre SNP councillor Andrew Parrott believes there is “no excuse.”
He said: “There really is no excuse for these accidents. The road haulage industry must improve the training of drivers so that they are much more aware of the height of their vehicle and of the restrictions that low bridges of all sorts impose on their choice of routes.
“On each and every occasion a lorry hits a railway bridge through carelessness on the part of the driver - and that’s what it is let us not pretend otherwise - I hope that
Network rail are charging the full costs of any damage to railway infrastructure and any disruption to rail services, if bridges have to be closed to rail traffic for safety checks and possibly repairs, to the insurers of the road vehicles involved.
“There has been too much disruption of rail traffic and other road traffic in Perth because of bridge strikes and action must be taken to stop them by the road haulage industry and Network Rail and Police Scotland must take firm action to recover costs and seek prosecution of drivers as is appropriate to the circumstances.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the road was closed for around four hours adding: “There were no injuries and one man will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the incident.”
The road haulage industry must improve the training of drivers