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Cycle disaster law change debate Cycle disaster law change debate
(about 3 hours later)
An MP wants changes to the law to protect cyclists after four were killed in what a coroner described as "Britain's worst cycling disaster".An MP wants changes to the law to protect cyclists after four were killed in what a coroner described as "Britain's worst cycling disaster".
Thomas Harland, 14, Maurice Broadbent, 61, Dave Horrocks, 55, and Wayne Wilkes, 42, died on a practice ride near Abergele, Conwy, in January 2006.Thomas Harland, 14, Maurice Broadbent, 61, Dave Horrocks, 55, and Wayne Wilkes, 42, died on a practice ride near Abergele, Conwy, in January 2006.
Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane will lead a debate in Westminster Hall at the House of Commons later.Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane will lead a debate in Westminster Hall at the House of Commons later.
The Rhyl Cycling Club members died when a car skidded on ince near Abergele. The Rhyl Cycling Club members died when a car skidded on ice near Abergele.
The road had not been gritted, despite warnings about icy conditions in the area.The road had not been gritted, despite warnings about icy conditions in the area.
Mr Harland, who was also on the ride and suffered a broken leg, has spoken to Mr Ruane in advance of the Commons debate, and both agreed the issues the MP would raise.Mr Harland, who was also on the ride and suffered a broken leg, has spoken to Mr Ruane in advance of the Commons debate, and both agreed the issues the MP would raise.
I think the lessons learnt here on the protocols between local authorities could be spread around the whole of the UK Chris Ruane MPI think the lessons learnt here on the protocols between local authorities could be spread around the whole of the UK Chris Ruane MP
He and the MP want to see principal roads gritted and closed until passable in icy weather.He and the MP want to see principal roads gritted and closed until passable in icy weather.
Mr Ruane, who has told North Wales Police Authority of his intention to raise the debate in the Commons, said he questioned procedures and protocols.Mr Ruane, who has told North Wales Police Authority of his intention to raise the debate in the Commons, said he questioned procedures and protocols.
"If you have a look on that morning, there were four accidents, three of them involved police officers," he said."If you have a look on that morning, there were four accidents, three of them involved police officers," he said.
"Were they reported properly to the control room? Did the control room act properly on the report of those accidents?""Were they reported properly to the control room? Did the control room act properly on the report of those accidents?"
Mr Ruane said he would be calling for icy roads to be dealt with in the same manner as an oil spill.Mr Ruane said he would be calling for icy roads to be dealt with in the same manner as an oil spill.
"If an oil spillage had occurred, the road would be cordoned off: this would be standard procedure," he said."If an oil spillage had occurred, the road would be cordoned off: this would be standard procedure," he said.
Mr Ruane said he also intends to focus on communication failures over road gritting, highlighting the fact that the accident occurred on a stretch of road split by the Denbighshire-Conwy county border.Mr Ruane said he also intends to focus on communication failures over road gritting, highlighting the fact that the accident occurred on a stretch of road split by the Denbighshire-Conwy county border.
During the inquest last month, the jury heard the route was not gritted by Conwy Council on the morning of the bike ride, despite frost having been forecast.During the inquest last month, the jury heard the route was not gritted by Conwy Council on the morning of the bike ride, despite frost having been forecast.
'No protocol''No protocol'
The jury decided there was a "serious lack of communication" between police and local authorities and that the vehicle which hit the cyclists was being driven in an inappropriate manner.The jury decided there was a "serious lack of communication" between police and local authorities and that the vehicle which hit the cyclists was being driven in an inappropriate manner.
"The Denbighshire side was gritted early in the morning, and then [the lorry] turned back into Denbighshire instead of going the whole length because there was no protocol in place," said Mr Ruane."The Denbighshire side was gritted early in the morning, and then [the lorry] turned back into Denbighshire instead of going the whole length because there was no protocol in place," said Mr Ruane.
"I think the lessons learnt here on the protocols between local authorities could be spread around the whole of the UK. "But it is especially important in Wales where we have 22 small local authorities and thousands of miles of border roads." "I think the lessons learnt here on the protocols between local authorities could be spread around the whole of the UK.
"But it is especially important in Wales where we have 22 small local authorities and thousands of miles of border roads."
Mr Ruane said the case had brought up questions for the police, local authorities and the judiciary, and also asked why the driver had not been prosecuted.Mr Ruane said the case had brought up questions for the police, local authorities and the judiciary, and also asked why the driver had not been prosecuted.