Meeting is set over dangerous school crossing

Parents campaigning for a safer school crossing have set a date for a meeting with councillors, police and road agencies.

Last month The Oban Times reported how a nearmiss between a four-yearold boy and a car outside Lochnell Primary School in Benderloch had stepped up a long campaign by the community to cut risks to lives on the A828.

So far, about 300 people have responded to an online survey about how the road could be made safer – and a huge amount of feedback has come from motorists.

The web survey is at tinyurl. com/lochnell and all the data from it will be handed over by the parent-led campaign to authorities at a meeting on October 21.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been lobbied for action, along with Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, the police, Argyll and Bute Council and Ardchattan Community Council.

DJ Barr, whose son was the child involved in the latest reported near-miss, said he hoped BEAR Scotland, the police and other relevant authorities would attend next month’s meeting.

Last week some of the parents met Argyll and Bute councillors Elaine Robertson and Kieron Green, who are giving their support. The school’s parent council is taking the lead with the campaign.

Councillor Robertson said: ‘We are giving them our full support to help make the crossing safer.’

After the October meeting, a public meeting may follow.

Mr Barr said: ‘Considering we only have 98 families in school, hundreds of responses to our survey is phenomenal. The reach that social media has given us is amazing.

‘We intend to hand over the results from the survey at the October meeting and ensure we make all the important points.’

Police have been outside the school again carrying out random speed checks, welcomed by community councillor Willie Barnett.

Mr Barnett is concerned over why Transport Scotland took no action after a speed measuring exercise revealed most vehicles passing the school were in excess of 31mph – at start and end of school days, the speed restriction is 20mph.

‘Surely this should have raised a red flag in whatever office is responsible for this area. In the meantime, children’s lives are still at risk,’ he said.

BEAR Scotland has said it will be reviewing the approaches to the school before March next year ‘to see if anything could be improved or introduced to reduce vehicle speeds and increase road safety’.

BEAR Scotland has also confirmed it will be meeting with community councillors to hear concerns. The next Ardchattan Community Council meeting is on Thursday October 4 at 7.30pm at Barcaldine Primary School.