Some information on the incident I reported in my last post regarding the accident at Windy Corner. It appears that the scooter rider, Mr John Manley suffered a heart attack and dies as a result of that and not of injuries sustain in the collision with the post.
On Monday night we had some strong winds so on Tuesday morning we were driving round with some caution looking for trees or branches that might have come down in the night. There were two such problems on my route. The first I came to was in Broadsands Rd. A branch had come down and was intruding into the road by a couple of feet and clearly visible and easily avoided. When I came back 5 minutes later there were two council workers removing the branch. Half a mile further on, on the ring road, I came across the second incident. A tree in a garden had been blow over but it had come to rest on an other tree but one of it's branches was sticking out into the road at a height of about 10 feet. Would have made a nasty dint in the top of the bus but brilliant driver that I am I spotted it in good time and managed to avoid it. Now some Stagecoach services occasionally run along this road and the branch would cause them more problems than it caused me so at the next bus stop I pulled in, handbrake on, switched of the engine and rang Stagecoach depot to let them know the problem. The controller I spoke to thanked me and said he would get onto the council at once. An hour later when I went back the tree had gone and council work men were just finishing clearing the road. The 3rd thing the council were clearing up was the damaged post at Windy Corner. By lunch time the post had been replaced and the road clear. So well done Torbay Council far acting speedily in these three incidents.
The forecast for tonight is wind. Cornwall and Devon were on Amber alert as the remains of Cyclone Katia headed our way but it looks like it might miss up but winds of 25 mph are still predicted. We will have to wait and see.
On my way into town on my first trip I had a feeling something was wrong. There were more people than usual at the Waterside stop and at the YMCA stop. When I stopped at The Leisure Centre and loaded the bus I had almost a full load. One of the people who didn't get on the bus asked if I knew when the next 12 was coming. This suggested there was a problem somewhere. Usually By the time I get to the Big Tree our 501 service from Galmpton is coming up behind me. If it is I let it get in front of me as it leaves the stand at 09:55 and I go 5 minutes later. But there was no sign of the bus. When I got to the stand in Torbay Rd I began to wonder what the problem was. Then at 5 to ten the other bus turned up 10 minutes late. The driver told me that the road had been closed by the police at Windy Corner. This is a problem for me as my route takes me out towards Windy Corner but I turn down Broadsands Rd just before the Zebra Crossing at Windy Corner. The road was set to be closed for 4 to 5 hours which suggested a serious RTC. When I got to the bottom of Cherry Brook there was a road closed sign and a policeman directing traffic up Cherry Brook. I spoke to him and he said I could get down Broadsands as the main road was closed just passed the junction. When I got to the junction I could see a motor scooter on it's side. It had hit the pole supporting the left-hand belisha beacon at the Zebra Crossing outside Squire's Restaurant. Plenty of police cars were also present but the ambulance had gone by then. The road remained closed until about 2:30. Accident investigators were there for 5 hours taking measurements.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "From initial inquiries it would appear that there are no other vehicles involved, although a full investigation is ongoing.
"Officers would like to hear from anyone who was driving along Dartmouth Road and either witnessed the collision or saw the motorcycle prior to the incident."
I later heard that the rider, John Manley, aged 74, from Brixham had been taken to Torbay Hospital but had died from his injuries. Our Condolences go to his family and friends.
Once again a coach driver has forgotten that there is a difference, legally, between a coach and a bus. One of those differences is that buses cannot park in coach bays. An other is that coaches cannot park on bus stops, especially those bus stops marked out in yellow paint. The reason for that is simple. If a coach parks on the bus stop, when the bus turns up it has to sit out in the middle of the road blocking the traffic and causing congestion.
Traffic wardens were invented to help keep the traffic in our towns and cities moving by discouraging illegal parking, a major reason for congestion. Most traffic wardens enjoy their job.
So edwardscoaches.co.uk, don't park on bus stops, it will cost you 80 quid. Oh sorry, it already has cost you 80 quid.
First a reminder. On Sunday at Shedden Hill Car Park there is the Vintage Bus Running Show. Here is a chance not only to look at a load of old buses but also take a ride round the Bay on as many as you have time for. Look out for the ex Torquay Dept Volvo B6 formally used on the 12 service before being moved to Exeter. I always liked driving these B6s and like most drivers was sad to see them go but I did hear that the engineering staff all went out for a drink the day they left the depot. Any way, you can catch the buses at the car park or wait for them at their very own bus stop on the sea front at the bottom of Belgrave Rd.
Second a warning. From Monday if you get on a bus in the Bay with a concessionary bus pass you will be asked to swipe the bus pass on the electronic ticket machine instead of showing the pass and telling the driver where you are going. A couple of minor problems here. First you will probably have to take the pass out of a holder if you have it in a holder as the machine might not be able to read the card through the clear plastic screen in most card holders, so have it out ready. Second is the fact that now because passengers will no longer need to tell the driver where they intend to get off the bus, there is a possibility that you might get on the wrong bus and not realise until you have travelled a long way toward some where you didn't intend to go to. Have fun.
Third a question. Look at the photo. I have noticed a few cars recently with odd little things hanging from the back bumper. What is this all about, have I missed something important here?
