'Why wasn't cyclist found?'

POLICE chiefs are being asked why no action was taken to identify a cyclist whose collision with a pensioner on a Nailsea footpath left her seriously injured. The accident happened at 8.50am on June 7 on the path which links Stock Way South to Valley Gardens.As a result of it, 73-year-old grandmother Joy Tucker sustained a fractured arm, cuts to her head, a black eye and bruising to the right side of her body.At a recent meeting, members of Nailsea Local Action Team expressed concerns about the police response after the collision and an apparent lack of procedures to deal with such incidents.So they are writing to North Somerset's district commander chief superintendent Tracey Hayler and the district's superintendent of operations Julian Moss, and sending a copy of their letter to Woodspring MP Dr Liam Fox.During their debate, Nat Tucker, the victim's husband, said: "We've debated the issue of cyclists' behaviour on many occasions, but it's obvious now that there is a serious gap in public safety. The police recorded the accident but said they couldn't really be involved because it didn't come under road safety. "As long as the cyclist didn't ride off, they couldn't do any more."There seem to be no procedures in place stating what has to be done in these cases."There's no obligation on cyclists to have insurance like car drivers and there's a lack of guidance and information. My wife's, and my, main concern is that someone somewhere else will be in the same position unless somebody addresses this issue."Cllr Phil Barclay said: "I think we should write to the police stating our concern that no action was taken to identify the person who carried out this unlawful act which resulted in serious injury to a member of the public.