Massive payout a warning for council over its roads

David Robinson of Edinburgh suffered a dislocated left elbow and fractures to his elbow and wrist when his bike hit and became lodged in the grooves of a polished metal strip set in the A701, throwing him over the handlebars.

He is the first of three cyclists taking action against Scottish Borders Council for injuries sustained at Broughton Village, where the 4m long, 10cm wide metal expansion joint on the bridge over the Biggar Water was positioned at an acute angle across the road surface.

As the case unfolded at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the Roads Authority was found wholly negligent in its duty of care and the council has been given a very clear message that it must face the consequences and change its approach to inspecting and maintaining the roads in its region.

Brenda Mitchell of Cycle Law Scotland ( a specialist legal firm for cyclists run by cyclists), a personal injury lawyer of 28 years’ experience, who was acting for Mr Robinson, said that she hoped that Borders roads would now be safer for all two-wheeled road users as a result of the case.

She said:“It is extremely disappointing that Scottish Borders Council never actively applied their minds to what constitutes a hazard for cyclists and motorcyclists on its roads.

“The metal strips had been designed by an engineer in 1990 and no thought had been given to them since.

“The only inspection the roads authority conducted was by a four-wheeled vehicle travelling at 20-25 mph.

“That manner of inspection is not sufficient to enable a roads authority to identify hazards for two-wheeled road users who are so vulnerable to serious injury.

“Scottish Borders Council did nothing to remedy the hazardous road surface following Mr Robinson’s report of his serious injury in December 2013,” she continued.

“ It was only after two other cyclists suffered injuries after coming into contact with the same hazard that the council eventually cut the strips down and covered them in May 2015.“

Ms Mitchell concluded: “It begs the question why action was not taken sooner.”

David Robinson had been cycling as part of a group of 12 cyclists from the cycle club Edinburgh RC, and could not clearly see the road surface in front of him until it was too late.

He was taken from the scene of the accident to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

The two other cases are now likely to be settled following the judgment by Lady Wolffe.

Ms Mitchell added:“More and more people are being encouraged to cycle and the Borders and the Tweed Valley actively market the region as a cycling destination.

“This particular hazard has been fixed and I hope that the case has highlighted how the local Roads Authority can play its part in making the area safer for everyone.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson responded in a statement this week: “The Council is still taking advice on the judgement.”