Campaigner says kids lives at risk

Jul 29 2008 Paisley Daily Express

RENFREWSHIRE Council is putting the safety of children behind the desire to follow government guidelines, according to one campaigner.

Iain Wilson, secretary of Linwood community council, has hit out at local authority’s decision to withdraw a lollipop man at the Bridge of Weir Road crossing in the town.

And he has called on the council to make sure the safety the primary and secondary schools in the area at the top of any restructuring initiative.

He told the Paisley Daily Express: “Are we prepared to risk the lives of our children and will it ease our consciences to say that we followed the guidelines.

“Please, there have already been two decisions to replace supervision at lit crossings. Let’s put the safety of our children in Linwood at the top of our priorities and replace supervision at this one as well.”

The decision to remove the crossing supervisor was taken after a reassessment by Renfrewshire Council officers based on local authority road safety officers guidelines.

These ensured that pedestrians had adequate time to cross the road.

But at a recent community council meeting the residents questioned these guidelines and suggested that they have failed to take into account children who might not use the lights before crossing a road.

Iain insisted that the crossing used by school children going to Woodlands Primary, Our Lady of Peace Primary School and Linwood High School warranted an “exceptional circumstances” designation which justifies continued supervision.

And he claimed it is a special case because vehicles entering this area from the western villages and along Kashmir Avenue often do so at excessive speeds.

Iain told the Express: “The crossings were established because this was a dangerous section of road.

“The problem coming from Kashmir Avenue is the traffic coming off the bypass. Drivers can forget to modify their speed which can then result in an accident if a child is crossing.”

He added: “If there is an individual supervisor at the crossing the children will gather and wait for the light. But if it is one child he might just look both ways, cross the road, and then become a victim.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Bridge of Weir Road has pedestrian-controlled traffic lights which we encourage everyone to use.

“The crossing patroller who was based here has been moved to a location where there are no lights to help parents and children cross the road.”

The spokeswoman added: “Our review was carried out according to national guidelines. “It makes sense to target patrollers to cover locations without lights where children currently cross on their own. This is clearly a more dangerous situation.”