Call for action on accident blackspot

A controversial accident blackspot in the Borders has been brought to the attention of the Scottish Government at Holyrood.
Scottish Borders Council logo

April 2009Scottish Borders Council logo

April 2009
Scottish Borders Council logo April 2009

The Chairman of NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council’s Leader have written a joint letter to the Scottish Government asking for decisive action at one of the worst blackspots in the region, on the junction from Borders General Hospital to the Melrose bypass.

John Raine and Councillor David Parker wrote the letter to Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and Islands, asking the Government to resolve concerns around the junction, which has seen seven separate injury accidents since improvements were made to the road in 2011.

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Before those improvements were made, for the comparable period, a total of six injury accidents were recorded. There have also been a number of minor accidents which do not form part of the statistics.

John Raine, chairman of NHS Borders, said: “I have received considerable representation from staff and patients at the BGH about concerns at the road junction and the regular accidents that take place there.

“There are very real worries about the entrance to the BGH and it is completely unacceptable that the region’s only hospital should have an accident blackspot at its entrance.”

Councillor David Parker, Leader

“In 2012, SBC united across the political spectrum to call on Transport Scotland to take action at the BGH entrance.

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“At that time minor tweaks were made, but these have clearly not worked and something more substantial has to be done.

“The road junction at the BGH is in my ward, and as well as my own constituents who regularly raise concerns, a great many people from communities across the Borders have made representations to me about the unacceptable nature of the junction and the many accidents which happen there.”

Transport Minister invited to visit BGH

As well as writing to the Transport Minister, letters have also been issued to local MPs and MSPs. The letters ask the politicians to support the call for action to ensure the difficulties encountered at the BGH are dealt with decisively.

Mr Raine and Cllr Parker have also extended an invitation to the Minister to visit BGH to discuss the concerns on site at the hospital.