Family helps to create floral tribute to Harlow

tragedy: Bulbs planted at Coupar Angus Common close to where toddler was fatally struck by car

The family of toddler Harlow Edwards has helped create a floral tribute on the edge of Coupar Angus.

Thousands of crocuses have been planted at the town’s Common, near where the youngster was killed in a horrific road crash during the school holidays.

The town’s Pride of Place committee invited people to help plant bulbs on Saturday morning.

The event was originally arranged as part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Purple 4 Polio campaign.

The team said it was also a chance to remember two-year-old Harlow, whose death has shaken the close-knit community.

Chairwoman Anne Easson said the crocuses will “flower every spring in a blaze of purple on the Common”.

Harlow was killed while walking along Forfar Road when she was struck by a car. Her big sister Dionne, 17, and six-year-old brother Leon were also badly hurt.

Several members of the family came out to help plant bulbs, with some placed in the ground to spell out Harlow’s name.

The accident has triggered fresh calls for tougher road safety measures.

Last weekend, campaigners took matters into their own hands when they altered 30mph signs at all entrances to create a blanket 20mph zone throughout the town.

The move was condemned by police and council officials.

Now, more than 1,000 people have signed a petition for increased safety on roads around Larghan Park, near where Harlow was struck.

Alison Saunders, from Alyth, who started the petition, wrote: “There are a lot of motorists that speed past Larghan park at Coupar Angus.

“Occasionally the police sit there and catch some but more needs to be done. It has the school, park, football pitch, skatepark etc in that area.”

She added: “There are often a lot of youngsters walking up and down that road. It needs to be safer. Something like a lane width restriction or even rumble strips would improve safety for pedestrians.”

The petition will be presented to Perth and Kinross Council.

Meanwhile, the local authority has confirmed that plans to set up a trial traffic exclusion zone around Coupar Angus School have been postponed.

The scheme – which would ban traffic from School Road and Townhead at certain times of the day – was signed off by councillors earlier this year.

Parents were urged to consider using a “park and stride” scheme at Larghan Park, which would have involved crossing the busy A94 Forfar Road to get to school.

The plan was stopped after a plea from Coupar Angus and Bendochty Community Council to council chief executive Bernadette Malone.

However, the £12,000 pilot plan will still go ahead at schools in Burrelton, Arngask and Luncarty.

Pictures: Ron Stephen. Leon Edwards, brother of Harlow, with his cousins McKenzie and Rio Edwards planting the crocuses.

Two-year-old Harlow Edwards was killed after being struck by a car. Crocus bulbs were planted to spell out her name, below.