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Safety concerns after learner driver crashes into Bradford on Avon pub

11:10am Tuesday 16th June 2009 in


A car has crashed into an 18th century pub in Bradford on Avon this morning.

Fire crews from Bradford, a damage control unit from Warminster and the gas board, are at the scene of the crash at the Castle Inn, in Mount Pleasant.

There are fears about the safety of the building after a 4x4, which was being driven by a woman learner driver, rammed into the left hand side of the pub at about 9.30am.

The driver was unharmed and there was minimal damage to the 4x4, but a hole, about 8ft sq, has been left in the wall above the cellar.

The stretch of road between the Sladesbrook and Masons Lane roundabouts has been sealed off by police while the damage is surveyed.

Manager, Nick Hanson, said: "The first I heard about it was when I got a call. I wasn't due in until 10am.

"I thought initially it would be a bit of a prang, but it was much worse than I thought."

The Castle Inn underwent a makeover in 2007 after being taken over by the Flatcappers chain.

The pub is due to reopen on Saturday.

Comments(16)

blamethebiscuits says...
11:07am Tue 16 Jun 09

If that person had to collide with a pub, why couldn't they pick a crap pub? I presume the photograph of The Castle accompanying this item is 'before'. Too much to hope we'd get a pic of a motor buried in the front.

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Vox Pop says...
11:16am Tue 16 Jun 09

I seem to remember this pub also being trashed by another vehicle a few years ago when the damaged vehicle burst into flames and the fire spread to the pub. Maybe it is time to erect crash barriers outside to deflect the cars (or rather the drivers) who fail to take the roundabout. Though, from memory, that would remove the only car parking spaces available to the pub’s customers.

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blamethebiscuits says...
12:22pm Tue 16 Jun 09

That's better, an 'after' pic. Thanks! Hope they're well insured.

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sirroms says...
1:54pm Tue 16 Jun 09

SHOES! SHOES! SHOES!

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norville says...
3:11pm Tue 16 Jun 09

Women drivers!!!!!

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Juan King says...
3:43pm Tue 16 Jun 09

So how tricky is it to steer, around a mini-round-about ??
And then to not be able to apply the brakes before hitting the wall ???
Like you say Norville. "Women Drives tut tut"

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Trowbridge Bloke says...
4:06pm Tue 16 Jun 09

I always use my good lady to drive back from the pub, not to it!

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Trowbridge Bloke says...
4:06pm Tue 16 Jun 09

I always use my good lady to drive back from the pub, not to it!

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tethered says...
4:40pm Tue 16 Jun 09

It amazes me the lack of respect for women on the road.You lot are obviously perect drivers of course.Now then how meny people caught drink driving,speeding etc are women.Not half as many as men.How many male drivers are responsible for peoples deaths compared to women when you are over taking on blind bends and speeding to show off to your mates,often harming innocent people coming the other way.I am not saying lady drivers are perfect but we are not as responsible for half as many accidents as the male population.The main thing is nobody was harmed.Lives are not replacable bricks are.

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Meester David says...
4:43pm Tue 16 Jun 09

Wimmin drivers and 4X4's. What a disastrous mixture.


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Ult1mate says...
7:46pm Tue 16 Jun 09

couldn't they pick a smalled, easier car to learn in, instead of a 4x4!

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Mr.Right says...
4:22pm Wed 17 Jun 09

It's really not her fault, that junction has two other exits to think about, fine for most of us but hell if your concerned about the iron you left on, the washing you put out - will it rain? did I text mum, dad, and all the other people in the phone directory this morning? dad or chips? BB or the steet, UKIP or BNP, what to wear Friday night, what not to wear Friday night, shoes? hair? Spit or swallow? it's no wonder left or right come so far down the list!!

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Sazzer says...
7:51pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Should some blame not lie with the instructor? This could have been a first lesson for all we know which can be very nerve wracking. What a silly car to take a learner out in

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hardup says...
12:05am Fri 19 Jun 09

Is it not the case that a 4x4 is a totally unsuitable vehicle to learn to drive in. This is not a tilt at women drivers but I shudder every school run at tiny women who cannot see over the wheel in 4x4s and who clearly cannot contol the size of the vehicle they drive - apart from making their kids fat by no making the spoiled brats walk. Womes in 4x4s is like tiny men on big motorbikes that are too heavy for them to lift if it topples over.

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Vox Pop says...
10:09am Fri 19 Jun 09

Some of the other contributors have stated that a 4X4 is an unsuitable vehicle for a learner and that is a very valid point. Maybe it is time to change the law to align novice car drivers with novice motorcycle riders – they are restricted in the bikes they can ride until after they have passed the test. But on an entirely practical point, if she had to crash this vehicle then I’m relieved that it was at the top of the hill and not at the bottom. I would not like to be sitting in a car at the bottom of Masons Lane which was rammed from behind by an out-of-control 4X4 with a novice driver at the wheel: the consequences don’t bear thinking about.

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Juan King says...
10:13am Fri 19 Jun 09

Just one question, how many lessons until she learns where the brake pedal is ??
She has gone over the roundabout, over the car park, astonishing.

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