Edinburgh

CYCLISTS are still being toppled at Haymarket – despite a slew of changes to make the junction safer by city chiefs.

At its peak cyclists were being sent crashing to the road on a daily basis as they attempted to navigate across tram lines outside the train station.

However, an Evening News probe can reveal there are still several accidents a week at the blackspot – with the latest involving an experienced member of a city cycle club, who was sent over his handlebars and left badly grazed and bruised.

A further two cyclists were also unseated last week as they navigated the busy junction in wet conditions.

The problem lies with both the road’s tram lines snagging bicycle wheels and the confusing road layout.

Cyclists are currently being sent into a taxi drop-off zone – and a dedicated set of traffic lights – to control their flow over the tram tracks while making the crossing angle less dangerous.

City cyclist Keith Donald, 64, from Corstorphine, attempted the junction for the first time on Friday and found it “all very confusing”.

He said: “I was pre-warned of the problems after reading about it in the papers so I knew a little of what to expect.”

While regular cyclist Shaun Scott, 32, from Saughton, said: “I cycle through it most days and I’ve seen a number of people get their wheels caught.

“I usually stay out of the taxi drop-off and bunny hop the tram lines. Why would I give up a green light and turn into the taxi drop-off?”

Since its reopening in October last year, several changes have been made such as the relocation of the taxi rank from in front of the station across the road to the north side of Clifton Terrace in a bid to stop over-ranking taxis pushing cycles towards the tram tracks at an acute angle.

Additional road markings and signs have also been erected to direct cyclists into the taxi drop-off.

City cycle charity Spokes warned as early as April last year that the layout would result in accidents, however its advice was not heeded.

Now in a bid to put it right it is asking for coloured road surfacing to be put down to better instruct cyclists.

Ian Maxwell, of Spokes, said: “It is a very busy and complicated junction, removal of the taxi rank has helped but more road markings and signs are needed to make it safe for cyclists.

“We’d like a coloured surface laid down, much like the council has recently installed at West Maitland Street.”

City transport convener Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “Although we are aware of a recent incident, we feel that the changes introduced in the area have significantly improved the situation.

“We will of course continue to monitor this area closely and will take further action if required.”

Meanwhile, the council has issued the following advice to those cycling near tram tracks: “Anyone cycling near to and around the tram tracks should take care while they get used to them, especially in wet weather conditions as the tracks will be slippery. It’s best to cross the tracks as close to a right angle as possible and to take extra care avoid getting wheels caught in between the rail grooves.”
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Bath

Brain damaged Bath man Kristopher Hicks in compensation fight after taxi fall | Bath Chronicle

A Bath man who suffered brain damage when he jumped or fell from a moving taxi has issued High Court proceedings to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds against the cab’s driver who thought his passenger was trying to do a runner.

The claim, issued on behalf of 26-year-old Kristopher Hicks, from Weston, says that on November 2, 2010 he was in a taxi with his girlfriend Abigail Noad being driven from Orange Grove taxi rank to his then home in Foxhill.

It says that when the taxi reached its destination, she got out, but before she had a chance to pay, the driver pulled away.

High Court documents say that driver Michael Young, who lives in The Oval area, continued to drive the vehicle until Mr Hicks either fell or jumped from the moving cab in North Road in Combe Down, sustaining severe head injuries.

In a police interview, Mr Young said he had become suspicious after hearing Ms Noad joke that the couple weren’t going to do a runner.

James Davies, a serious injury expert at law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office, who is acting for Mr Hicks, said: “Kris suffered devastating brain injuries in the incident that were not only life-changing for him, but also his devoted family.

“Whilst he has undergone extensive treatment and rehabilitation, he has developed post-traumatic epilepsy, headaches, fatigue, suffers social and behavioural problems and has no sense of taste or smell.

“He is reliant on 24-hour care from his mum and is unable to work.”

He said they were looking for a lifetime settlement which took into account Mr Hicks’s future needs.

Mr Young, who the claim says was negligent because he failed to give the couple adequate opportunity to pay, declined to comment.


http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Brain-damaged-Bath-man-Kristopher-Hicks/story-20618811-detail/story.html#ixzz2tCWXcWG5
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London

A woman who died when part of a building collapsed onto her car in central London last night has been named as mum-of-three Julie Sillitoe.

The 49-year-old mini cab driver, from north London, was in a Skoda Octavia car when the front of a building in Holborn collapsed onto it during a fierce storm.

Police were called to the scene opposite Holborn Tube Station at 11.03pm to reports of three occupants trapped inside.

Despite the work of emergency services, Mrs Sillitoe was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other two occupants were sat in the rear of the car. A 25-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman have been taken to hospital.

They are in non-life threatening conditions.

Next of kin have been informed of Mrs Sillitoe's death and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Mrs Sillitoe was driving a licensed minicab and the two other people were her passengers.

Cordons are currently in place to secure the building and protect public safety.

The road remains closed and motorists are being urged to avoid the area as it is likely to be closed for some time.

Officers from Camden investigate the circumstances of the incident.