A ROAD campaigner has called for urgent action following three crashes – two of them fatal – in the Borders over the past seven days.

Michelle Bennett, 47, was killed last Friday in a crash near Kelso.

Another female passenger, who was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, remains in a serious but stable condition.

The day before, great-grandfather William Downie was struck by an HGV near his Lamancha home on the A701 just after midday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

And earlier that day, a man had been rushed to hospital following a collision on the A7.

Marjorie McCreadie, secretary of the A7 Action Group had met the Minister for Transport Hamza Yousaf at the Scottish Parliament last week to outline concerns they have about the route.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph, she said: “These incidents are heartbreaking for the families involved and serve as a timely reminder that more needs to be done, be that improving the A7, or other routes in the region. This cannot be put on the long finger.”

Marjorie set up the group 25 years ago, after being in a car crash at Colterscleuch.

The Minister for Transport met with a delegation including Marjorie, MP Calum Kerr and Gordon Edgar from SBC to hear about the groups proposals to improve the route from Carlisle to Edinburgh.

A bypass is being discussed to make the route safer.

“The overall reaction we got was positive and the Transport Minister committed to further meetings with the group,” said Marjorie.

“He said he will have regular meetings with Transport Scotland and would assist us in taking the plan forward.” 

The prospect of a bypass for Selkirk was also revisited and Marjorie was encouraged by the Transport Minster’s response.

“He said he would look at the Selkirk bypass as one scheme along with other schemes in Scotland that are vying for money," she said. 

"But we were assured that the group would be given the opportunity to make a case on why they need the bypass.”