PRESS RELEASE

February 3rd, 2009

MSP hails parents’ win in crossing battle

Worried parents have been vindicated over fears that a school crossing on a busy trunk road isn’t safe.

The Parent Council of Ravenscraig Primary School contacted Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil with concerns about a plan to remove a crossing patrol in favour of new light-controlled crossing.

Following the intervention of road traffic experts, campaigners have now won a series of concessions, including a police investigation into driver behaviour and road experts introducing significant modifications to the lights to improve safety.

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil, who received the report into the crossing, welcomed the developments.

He said: “Parents are rightly concerned that children as young as seven or eight may be confused by the staggered light system and all it would need is a school bell to ring at the wrong time for us to have a real tragedy on our hands.

“I am glad that police are now going to be looking into the unacceptable driver behaviour at this point on the road and those who fail to comply with signals should be warned of the dangers they are causing.

“I am also pleased that Amey has taken its responsibilities seriously and plan to alter the lights to allow an extra ‘on demand’ phase to make the crossing safer.

“While I can’t complain at the speed the various agencies, including the council, the police and Amey, have acted, it does concern me that it took my intervention before these issues were fully investigated.

“Already the council have acted by re-instating the crossing patrol on a temporary basis and I am confident that they will take into account the expert advice now offer when they decide whether to retain it permanently.”

ENDS