Triple driving ban for councillor

Cllr Higgins is convener of the council's licensing committee

A council licensing convener who was involved in two accidents within minutes at the weekend has been given a triple driving ban.

Councillor Robert Higgins, SNP group leader with Dumfries and Galloway Council, was also fined £900 after he admitted a series of driving offences.

He appeared from custody at Stranraer Sheriff Court after spending the weekend in the cells.

He was arrested on Saturday after crashing his car twice on the A75.

He admitted driving without due care and attention and losing control of the car.

The charge revealed that he left the road and travelled along the verge for more than 88 yards.

I'm not discussing this until I've made a statement to the full council which meets tomorrow [Tuesday] Cllr Robert Higgins Dumfries and Galloway Council

After demolishing a row of roadside marker posts, he veered across the road to the opposite carriageway and ploughed along the opposite verge before hitting a wire fence and stalling the car.

Mr Higgins pleaded guilty to a further charge of failing to stop after an accident and report his name and address to the owners of the property he had damaged.

He also admitted failing to provide two breath specimens to police.

A not guilty plea to a fourth charge of failing to report an accident was accepted by the procurator fiscal.

Cllr Higgins was fined £200 on the careless driving charge, £200 for failing to stop, and £500 for refusing to take a breath test.

He was also banned from driving for two years on each of the three charges, although the bans will run concurrently.

The councillor, who represents Wigtown West ward and lives in Stranraer, was said to be considering his position.

Golf dinner

After the case, he said: "I'm not discussing this until I've made a statement to the full council which meets tomorrow [Tuesday]."

Cllr Higgins' conviction is understood to have followed a golf club dinner.

A council spokesman said: "The council understands that Cllr Higgins appeared in court this morning charged with a number of road traffic offences.

"It is understood that Cllr Higgins pled guilty and has been dealt with by the court.

"Cllr Higgins was not undertaking his official duties at the time of the offences. He is expected to provide a statement for the media in due course."

No comment was available from SNP headquarters.

As well as being convener of the divisional licensing board for Wigtown, Cllr Higgins is chairman of Stranraer Common Good Fund and chairman of the council's governance and audit committee.

He is also a member of the authority's policy, resources and planning, housing and environment services committees.