Community backs Kirkcaldy school road closure plan

Parking: Inconsiderate drivers causing problems outside Torbain Primsary

Residents of a Kirkcaldy community have overwhelmingly backed a pioneering plan to close a road outside their local school.

The Dallas Drive Tenants’ and Residents’ Association canvassed householders in the area near Torbain Primary School over long-standing concerns parents were parking illegally to drop off and collect their children.

Householders complained they were being blocked in by parents keen to drop their children off as close to the school gates as possible.

However, angered by the extent of the problems, the group is fighting back and claims residents have overwhelmingly backed plans to invite the council to seal off a section of Blairmore Road at peak times.

Sharon Reynolds, the chairwoman of the tenants’ and residents’ association, said: “From all of the houses we approached I think only one came back providing negative feedback to the plan.

“Most folk were very positive about it, although some people do have concerns about where the traffic will go.

“But there is parking for people dropping off kids at the school and that’s what we are trying to get through to people.”

In what would be a first for Fife, the group says it will approach Fife Council calling for it to close Blairmore Road between Dollar Crescent and Birnam Road at the beginning and end of the school day.

They claim it is a last resort due to the sheer volume of parents that park illegally while dropping off and collecting their children at Torbain Primary, while janitorial staff and crossing officers are also said to have endured abuse when confronting drivers about their parking.

Fife Council confirmed it has studied such road closures at work in Edinburgh but said last month that it has not yet examined how such a scheme could work in Kirkcaldy.

Councillor Neil Crooks said: “The issue was discussed at the last meeting of the Dallas Drive TRA.

“It was agreed that we would invite officers from the council to the next meeting to give their views on the pilots which ran in Haddington and to outline the process needed to close Blairmore Road should that be the outcome.

“There is no doubt the community living around the school and many of the parents have run out of patience with the drivers who bring their children to school. I would re-iterate that plea to drivers – just please stay away from Blairmore Road and use the drop off points at Birnam Road, Broom Road and Chapel Road instead.”

There is parking for people dropping off kids at the school and that’s what we are trying to get through to people. SHARON REYNOLDS

Picture: Steven Brown. Dallas Drive Tenants’ and Residents’ Association members, from left: chairwoman Sharon Reynolds, treasurer Karen Shand and Frank Brown, committee, outside Torbain Primary School.