Crash sparks debate over resuming e-scooter trials in Great Yarmouth

An accident involving a man on a privately owned electric scooter has sparked debate about its future in a Norfolk city.

Norfolk Police have appealed for dashcam footage of the moments leading up to the crash, which happened at the junction of St Peter’s Road and King Street in Great Yarmouth on Saturday.

A man in his 50s was taken to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston with life-threatening injuries after a collision with a grey Ford Focus. He was later said to be in a critical but stable condition.

The accident comes six months after licensed operator Ginger withdrew its e-scooters from the city, blaming the government for repeatedly extending trial periods.

Both the Conservative and Labour groups on Great Yarmouth District Council say licensed e-scooters should return, but the owner of Pleasure Beach says they should be permanently banned from the roads.

Police did not comment on the legality of the injured man using an electric scooter, but officers made it clear that only officially licensed rental scooters can be used on public roads.

Carl Smith, the Conservative leader of Great Yarmouth District Council, said he lobbied the previous government to grant a permanent licence to e-scooter hire operators.

“We said we’d like to do some testing to make them durable. Not just e-scooters, but e-bikes, which are a little more stable,” he said.

“We’re still trying to get it done and we’re working with different people, actively trying to find another operator because we know a lot of people use them.”

Mr Smith wished the injured man a speedy and full recovery but added: “He would have been insured (for a legal scooter) but obviously we don’t have any licensed scooters in the city.

“All these people flying around the city on these scooters are illegal. They’re deadly. The police can confiscate them if they see them. It’s that simple.”

Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour group on the council, also said he hoped the man would make a full recovery.

But he added: “I think it’s disappointing that we don’t have an operator in Great Yarmouth who can manage the legal system in the way that Ginger did.

“I think there are talks with other providers but the real issue is illegal scooters being used on public roads, which has inherent risks. It’s like driving a car without insurance.

“Ginger would still be in Great Yarmouth if the previous Conservative government had not kept delaying the trial date.

“They just backed off, saying, ‘Where are we going with this?’ and I don’t think they were willing to invest any more without seeing an end date for the process.”

However, the owner of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach said the trial should not be reopened and called on police to deal with the issue of private e-scooter use.

“I would be very much against (the return of licensed scooters) and I think this (incident) proves that,” he said.

“We had so many close calls. You talk to the landau operators – they were spooking the horses, weaving between the horses.

“There are people who are responsible, but there are also those who are irresponsible and double down. I even see people who take their children to school on them.

“I saw it with my own eyes. It’s an accident waiting to happen. If you Google “e-scooter fatalities,” the list is longer – even if they made them wear helmets.

“The police need to be more active. I know the police have enough work, but they know it’s illegal.”

Council leader Sheila Oxtoby said: “Unfortunately, since Ginger pulled out, we are putting the tender out again.

“We are interested, but all previous programmes have been pilots, so (scooter operators) are waiting to see what the new government’s position will be.

“We hope they continue. We think they’re a great way to get around; they’re a green way to get around and we know that (for) young people commuting to and from college they’re becoming increasingly popular.

“We would rather people use licensed scooters than private scooters, which are illegal.”