Drive for crash barriers to be extended on A7 following lorry smash
Last updated 8th Feb 2022
There's a call for crash barriers to be extended on the A7, just south of Galashiels.
It comes after a lorry carrying a digger toppled off the road at Glenmayne yesterday (Monday).
The vehicle landed just yards from David Pratt's front door. He says it's the sixth smash on that stretch of road in 15 years.
Mr Pratt, who lives at The Hawthorns and is chairman of the Borders Vintage Automobile Club, said: "It's a silly situation here.
"They've only just renewed the barrier all down here - why? I don't know. There's never been an accident down that way, but on this one stretch, with this corner, there have been six (crashes); and no-one seems to be doing anything about it.
"We have a neighbour down there who was walking the dog ten minutes before that happened - exactly where it's fallen on the other side."
Describing the difficulty of turning out of his drive, Mr Pratt added: "Bear Scotland never keep these bushes down to give you a clear sight; you look that way and you decide to go and all of a sudden a car comes round that corner at 90mph, and boom! There's going to be a really bad accident one day."
The lorry driver - who was badly bruised following yesterday's crash - escaped serious injury, and has issued a thank you through Radio Borders to everyone who came to his aid.
The road was closed for more than 12 hours while the vehicles were recovered, but has since reopened.
It's the latest in a series of smashes on the region's roads, which have resulted in three young lives being lost in the past three months.
READ MORE: Pedestrian taken to hospital following Galashiels hit-and-run
Heather Kelly was one of the first on the scene after the lorry slipped off the road and shed its load.
She said: "I noticed the lorry was on its side and we rushed over to make sure everything was okay. The driver was conscious and he had managed to cut himself free from the seatbelt.
"I had shakey legs and my heart was beating out my chest as we weren't sure the driver was okay until we got there."
Bear Scotland, which is responsible for the upkeep of the road, isn't ruling the move out.
A spokesperson said: “Work will commence this week to reinstate the site where the incident occurred.
"We will liaise with the adjacent householder to keep them advised on the progress of these works.
"The provision of a safety barrier on this section of the A7 will be considered as part of our ongoing A7 route action plan.”