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Road grit plan after bike deaths Road grit plan after bike deaths
(about 9 hours later)
Road safety measures are expected to be approved by a council following criticisms at an inquest into Britain's worst cycling accident. Better road gritting has been brought in after criticism at an inquest into Britain's worst cycling accident, councillors in Conwy have been told.
Four members of Rhyl Cycling Club were killed when a car skidded into them after hitting a patch of ice on a road near Abergele in January 2006.Four members of Rhyl Cycling Club were killed when a car skidded into them after hitting a patch of ice on a road near Abergele in January 2006.
New safety proposals will go before Conwy Council on Wednesday. Other measures include hand-held computers for officials to receive latest weather forecasts.
Proposals include more grit on icy roads, and hand-held computers for up-to-date weather forecasts. But councillors have called for a 50mph speed restriction on the A547 road.
They also requested that the cost of installing warning signs should be investigated.
Thomas Harland, 14, Maurice Broadbent, 61, Dave Horrocks, 55, and Wayne Wilkes, 42, died while on a 60-mile (96.5km) practice ride between the Great Orme and Llanrwst.Thomas Harland, 14, Maurice Broadbent, 61, Dave Horrocks, 55, and Wayne Wilkes, 42, died while on a 60-mile (96.5km) practice ride between the Great Orme and Llanrwst.
They were hit by motorist Robert Harris on the A547 Rhuddlan Road on an icy day.They were hit by motorist Robert Harris on the A547 Rhuddlan Road on an icy day.
In my case, it's lads I've known as far back as 30 years, and it really is a situation that leaves a hole in your life afterwards Bill Twigg, Rhyl Cycling ClubIn my case, it's lads I've known as far back as 30 years, and it really is a situation that leaves a hole in your life afterwards Bill Twigg, Rhyl Cycling Club
In August last year, Mr Harris was fined £180 with £35 costs and given six points on his licence after admitting having defective tyres - found not to be a factor in the crash.In August last year, Mr Harris was fined £180 with £35 costs and given six points on his licence after admitting having defective tyres - found not to be a factor in the crash.
But in June 2007, an inquest jury criticised a "serious lack of communication" between Conwy Council and its neighbouring authority Denbighshire when it came to road gritting.But in June 2007, an inquest jury criticised a "serious lack of communication" between Conwy Council and its neighbouring authority Denbighshire when it came to road gritting.
Communication between councils and North Wales Police also came under fire.Communication between councils and North Wales Police also came under fire.
The inquest heard that the route had not been gritted by Conwy Council on the morning of the bike ride, despite frost having been forecast.The inquest heard that the route had not been gritted by Conwy Council on the morning of the bike ride, despite frost having been forecast.
The meeting on Wednesday wants to highlight that councillors are "content with the procedures that have been developed since the tragedy". Conwy's environment scrutiny committee met on Wednesday to discuss progress already made.
The report, to go before Conwy's Environment Scrutiny Committee, said this will allow the council to show the coroner it is determined to "learn the lessons arising" from the tragedy. Some officers have been issued with hand-held computers to allow them to recieve up-to-the-minute forecasts.
It also looks at gritting routes, paying particular attention to cross-boundary arrangements with neighbouring authorities. Other new policies include putting extra grit on roads during icy conditions.
Under the proposals, Conwy Council would increase the amount of grit used on road when icy conditions were forecast.
I'm glad something positive is coming out of this tragedy Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd MPI'm glad something positive is coming out of this tragedy Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd MP
Duty officers would also be given hand-held computers to allow them to check up-to-the-minute weather forecasts. The committee approved the improvements, and also proposed that the speed limit on the A548 be reduced to 50mph from 60mph.
They also requested that the cost of installing warning signs should be investigated.
The proposals will be discussed by the council's cabinet.
Bill Twigg, the cycling club's president, said club members were "very reassured" by the new measures to improve road conditions in bad weather.Bill Twigg, the cycling club's president, said club members were "very reassured" by the new measures to improve road conditions in bad weather.
"It leaves us though, with the problem of motorists driving too fast, which is rather a constant thing on pretty well every road," he added."It leaves us though, with the problem of motorists driving too fast, which is rather a constant thing on pretty well every road," he added.
Mr Twigg appealed for motorists to slow down to "try and avoid this kind of tragedy".Mr Twigg appealed for motorists to slow down to "try and avoid this kind of tragedy".
Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd MP, who campaigned for action following the deaths, said: "I'm glad something positive is coming out of this tragedy. I look forward to hearing the details," he said.Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd MP, who campaigned for action following the deaths, said: "I'm glad something positive is coming out of this tragedy. I look forward to hearing the details," he said.
"However any best practice should be spread throughout the UK to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again.""However any best practice should be spread throughout the UK to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again."
The jury ruled out accidental death and returned a narrative verdict, which delivered factual statements on events leading to the four deaths.The jury ruled out accidental death and returned a narrative verdict, which delivered factual statements on events leading to the four deaths.