Tweeddale MP David Mundell has signed up to a community led petition calling for action on road safety in and around primary schools in the town and has pledged to step up the calls for action over the summer months in the hope that progress can be made before the schools return after the summer.
The local MP is backing a parents’ campaign to create traffic calming measures around the town’s three primaries, thus providing a safer walking experience for children. The campaign began after a “near miss” involving a mother and her child and now has wide support in the town.
Mr Mundell believes that given the wide spread support for the measures that Scottish Borders should act on its duty of care and take a common sense view and provide a safe environment for local children. All the evidence suggests that walking to school is both healthy and reduces traffic congestion, and the local MP believes it is important that such routes are as safe as possible, especially given the volume of traffic on local roads.
He hopes that by enhancing the safety measures in place drivers will be more cautious and aware of their driving style and speed when passing the towns primary schools, particularly in the early morning and afternoon when pupils are likely to be walking to and from school.
Commenting Mr Mundell said: “Now summer is upon us I want to take this opportunity to step up the campaign to improve road safety around the primary schools in Peebles. Just because the schools are out over the summer doesn’t mean Scottish Borders Council can simply put this issue to one side. There is strong local support for action on this issue and I hope that councillors and officials will take the common sense approach and put local children’s safety first. If we can get this issue moved to the top of the priority list i am hopeful we can see a resolution put in place that will allow for the necessary work to be started before pupils return after the summer.
He added: “Parents are encouraged nowadays to let their children walk to school where possible but they have to be confident that that walk is safe. I believe that the council owe a duty of care to help provide that reassurance and the sort of traffic calming suggestions which parents have brought forward seem to me to be the sensible choice. I also think that after the summer it will be important for the schools in question to do whatever they can to remind parents and pupils of the road safety issues and make sure we avoid a more serious incident.”