A Transport Scotland official made an astonishing claim during a meeting that last year’s horror lorry accident in Fairlie ‘was not down to speed’.

Mr George Henry, a safety officer for Transport Scotland, dismissed speed as a factor after persistent questioning from councillors as to why Fairlie had been excluded from the 20mph pilot project around Scotland.

The matter was debated at the North Coast committee in Largs Library. On February 14 last year, Catherine Bonner was killed after a lorry, going to Hunterston, smashed into a block of flats at Curneil Villa on the village main road.

SNP Councillor - and Fairlie resident - Alan Hill had been asking how it was possible the village could be missed out from the 20mph scheme when the community council and “the greater population” wanted it.

Accident statistics Mr Henry stated that Fairlie had been given significant attention by Transport Scotland but it didn’t meet the criteria laid down including accident statistics.

He said: “Last year’s accident in Fairlie was not down to speed.” Labour Councillor Alex Gallagher queried Mr Henry’s statement that last year’s accident was not down to speed, and pointed out that the matter had not yet gone to court. A 53 year old lorry driver has been charged in relation to causing death by alleged dangerous driving.

Chairing the meeting, Conservative councillor Tom Marshall said: “Purportedly, the lorry driver did not break the speed limit.” An incensed Cllr. Hill said; “I was parked in the village, standing on the pavement, and two juggernauts on the road could barely get past one another.” Mr Henry said he was aware of the issue and had already carried out a site visit at the village.

“That is something in terms of road safety we intend to look into, to see if they are any measures which can be put in place.” Cllr. Gallagher said: “You are defending the situation but it is not your decision but it is the ministers, is it not?.” Mr Henry explained that a number of different issues were used in determining the suitable towns and villages for the 20mph including the amount of vehicles usage, HGV numbers, vulnerable users, and accidents.

Mr Gallagher stated: “There is a really strong feeling in the village that we need this 20mph limit - would it be such a big problem just to do it?” Mr Henry responded: “It is not the case of whether it would be such a big problem or not. Trials have been carried out across Britian which show that there is the most compliance when the averge speed is around 24mph to reduce to to 20mph.” Cllr. Hill said: “The bottom line is that the accidents which happened in Largs were not down to speed but it looks like to me that they have picked three or four towns to run the pilot where it won’t make any difference as speed is extremely low to begin with. I will be discussing matters with North Ayrshire Council too. For Mr Henry to say that the accident was not down to speed, well, I cannot see how he can know that at this point. It was odd - I can see no reason whatsover not to include Fairlie. The narrowest bit of the Fairlie Main Road is quite unique - it is not the normal length of a trunk road, and with two juggernauts going by, it is terrifying. The pedestrian only has a 12 foot high wall so it is not as if you have anywhere else to go.” Mr Henry, who has been left in a wheelchair himself after a horror car crash many years ago, said that he was well aware of Fairlie Community Council’s protests regarding the 20mph limit exclusion, but said that any trial ‘needs to be evidence led’ - and said: “We are continuing to talk to the community and look towards other speed management meansures - that is not just in Fairlie but in every town and village down the A78 - we are looking at how we can get mean speeds lowered. Putting in speed limit signs is also an enforcement issue.” Mr Henry added: “Guidance documents state that 20mph speed limits should not include roads where vehicle movements is the primary function. The strategic transport network, which includes the trunk road, motorway, and rail networks, is critical in support a level of connectivity that facilitates sunstainable economic growth.” The high number of vulnerable road user accidents (10 accidents between 2008-12) was cited as a reason behind Largs being selected for the three year pilot programme, and Mr Henry stated that the road environment is also suited to the introduction of the 20mph limit.