Village road safety plans after death of young girl

FIFE: Proposals being drawn up to make improvements in Townhill

Council bosses are drawing up proposals to improve road safety in a Fife village after the death of a three-year-old girl.

Local councillors, the chairman of the community council and an officer from Fife Council’s transportation service visited the site of the tragedy in Townhill Main Street on Tuesday.

Robyn Knox died in hospital on August 3 after she was struck by a car outside the village’s convenience store. Her funeral will take place this week.

In what was described as a “positive” meeting, measures to prevent further tragedies were explored.

The main issue discussed was the lack of visibility for both motorists and pedestrians because of car parking.

Options on the table include prohibiting parking outside the shop and extending zigzag lines.

Helen Law, who is a Labour councillor for Dunfermline North and convener of City of Dunfermline Area Committee, said: “It was such a terrible tragedy. The family are heartbroken and so are the community.

“We need to some actions and we had a very positive meeting, and

I’m looking forward to seeing some positive proposals which will create improvements.”

Also attending the site visit were Provost of Fife Jim Leishman, local Conservative councillor Gavin Ellis and SNP councillor Ian Ferguson.

Ronnie Cowan, who chairs Townhill Community Council, was confident that any road safety measures agreed would be implemented swiftly.

“It was a very positive meeting. Everyone was looking to the same purpose, that the main issue in Townhill

Main Street is visibility, and that’s for motorists as well as pedestrians. The basis of the meeting today was to find the best way forward to address the issues of parking,” he said.

It had been suggested that railings be put up outside the shop to prevent children from running on to the road.

However, Mr Cowan said this option was not being considered. “If we get a number of things implemented to create a lot of visibility, railings really shouldn’t be required,” he added.

Picture: Steve Brown. Tributes left for three-year-old Robyn Knox who died after being struck by a car.