COUNCILLORS have chosen not to ban cycling in Darlington’s pedestrian heart following a tragic accident which left a grandfather with life-changing head injuries.

Businessman Brian Coates, 74, suffered serious head injuries and has lost the ability to communicate following a fall in the town centre in September, which may have been caused by a group of young cyclists seen nearby who might have startled or struck him.

Following the accident, Darlington Borough Council held a special place scrutiny committee to discuss ways of making the town centre safer for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Members of the council’s cabinet tonight (Tuesday, March 3) agreed to continue to allow cyclists to use the pedestrian heart, but made a number of recommendations.

These included increasing a police focus on antisocial cyclists, improving signage, making it easier for the public to report incidents, and ensuring that a road safety audit is carried out.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Dorothy Long, place scrutiny chair, said an outright ban would be unenforceable and would “penalise the majority for the actions of a few”.

Councillors had previously heard that there was just one incident of a cyclist colliding with a pedestrian between January 2009 and October 2014, but that near misses and unreported incidents were an unknown problem.

Cllr Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and environment, added: “Yes there are potential issues with pedestrians, but the impact on cyclists by driving them out on to the ring road is potentially far more serious. We have to remember why this policy was brought in in the first place.”

Family friend, Eddy Heslop, told members that Mr Coates has since been discharged from hospital and has returned home where he is now being cared for by his wife.

He said that, following the accident, 724 people had signed a petition calling for a ban on cycling in the pedestrian heart.

“His family is not anti-bike. What we are concerned about is trying to take steps to reduce this happening again,” he said.

Cllr Alan Coultas called for a risk assessment to be undertaken, adding: “The point was made that cycling on pavements is illegal but what we have created with this pedestrian heart is essentially a big pavement.

“Another point that this report doesn’t take into account is that there is a simple solution to this problem – that is to require cyclists to dismount and walk across the pedestrian heart.”

His views were echoed by Cllr Heather Scott, who said: “I myself have almost had incidents where cyclists have come up behind me.

“On a Saturday they weave in and out of the pedestrians, they have no consideration for people who are older than me who can’t get out of the way quick enough.”