Council U-turn after pupils hit by cars
Anxious parents feared a spate of road accidents at the Paisley school of St Margaret’s-St Mirin’s after lollipop men were axed. And their warnings came true. Since Strathclyde Regional Council cut the dual patrol, there were three accidents at or near the school gate, we reported in February 1979.
Two children were hurt in 1977 and a third narrowly escaped injury in 1978.
Now the councillors had second thoughts and a regional committee agreed that a patrol should be reestablished in Renfrew Road as an interim measure until a pelican crossing was installed.
The patrol was axed to save cash. But there was a flood of complaints expressing concern at the road safety situation.
The school occupied buildings on either dies of Renfrew Road, Paisley — a busy dual carriageway.
A census showed that up to 2,294 cars, buses and lorries passed the school at peak times when pupils made their way to and from the buildings.
The news of the patrol delighted headteacher John Irvine, who has campaigned for more than two years to have patrols reinstated.
He said the situation was a constant nightmare.
“There have been three accidents involving children since the patrollers were removed — and it is a miracle that no-one has been seriously injured,” said Mr Irvine.
“The volume of traffic is so heavy at 9am and 4.15pm that you would wonder how the children get across the road.”