Road rage as playing field plan announced Network Rail’s proposal for Parkhead Primary site

Par khead Primar y School’s parent council have slammed plans to build a road through a playing field.

Network Rail have submitted proposals to West Lothian Council which could see the A71 diverted through the grassy area at the school.

The plan is part of the Shotts line electrification project which will see work ongoing for two years.

As part of that, Network Rail have proposed routing a temporary 360- metre road through the field while work on the railway bridge gets under way.

In their proposals to the council, Network Rail said: “The A71 road bridge is to be replaced with a new bridge deck. This is because the existing clearance between the line and the bridge is too low to enable electrification to be safely carried underneath.

“The diversion leads from West Calder, adjacent to the railway station to a new road and rail bridge which West Lothian are constructing to serve the new high school. From there traffic will rejoin the A71 to travel eastwards.

“The road is being designed to only facilitate the vehicle diversion as pedestrian traffic will be maintained over a temporary footbridge.”

Addressing concerns about the effect the plans will have on pupils, Network Rail said: “The likelihood of disturbance and distraction cannot be eliminated, however through well managed sites the project will be able to contain the main elements of potential impact.

“Network Rail is also in discussions with the council about additional measures including, blinds for the classrooms involved, temporary relocation and the educational opportunities that having a civil engineering project on an adjacent site may present to the school.”

But Bronwen Smyth, chair of the school’s Parent Council, said: “The Parent Council are extremely concerned that the only option available is to build the road through the school playing field. This is despite repeated requests to both the council and Network Rail for information on other possible options, like building a temporary bridge over the station car park, or using alternative routes, particularly the Cleugh Brae, which will need to be upgraded for the thousands of houses being built in the area.

“The Parent Council feel decision makers need to stop treating the school playing field like a derelict piece of farmland. It’s in active use by the school’s teaching staff and the kids walk a mile a day on it.

“How can the playing field ever be the same again once they’ve grouted the underground layers, compacted it to make the road, and made a massive drainage pond on it.

“It’ll be years before the school children can have their sports day on it, make daisy chains and play games.”

A West Lothian Council spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that with regards to the electrification of the rail line Network Rail has submitted a planning application for the construction of a 360 metre diversion road for the A71, including the formation of soil mounds, drainage facilities, associated earth works, fencing and the subsequent removal of the road and reinstatement of the site within a period of two years.

“As part of the statutory planning process the council will consult with the local community council and other statutory consultees.

“The matter will then be considered by the Development Management Committee by the autumn.”

You can view the proposals at: https://planning.westlothian. gov. uk/ online- applications/ applicationDetails. do? active Tab= summary& keyVal= DCA PR_144533.

It’ll be years before the school children can have their sports day on it, make daisy chains and play games