Since the opening of the West End schools campus at Glenagnes Road/Blackness Road last year (the home of St Joseph's Primary School, Balgay Hill Nursery School and Victoria Park Primary School), I have raised concerns about pupil and parking safety around the schools' site.
Recently, the situation appeared to have improved, but yesterday - as reported in tonight's Evening Telegraph - there were real concerns about the situation. I had a long conversation last night with our local community police officer about the situation and have made some suggestions this morning to the Director of Education and the Head of Transportation at the City Council as follows:
* A minority of drivers ignoring the schools’ advice not to enter the school site by car to collect pupils. I think the time has come to consider a controlled barrier at the entrance to stop unauthorised entry.
* Some pupils leaving via the vehicle access road and not via the pedestrian entrance/exit. This needs to be addressed.
* Outside the school grounds, parking on zig zags, yellow lines and right on the corner of Glenagnes Road/Street, blocking Glenagnes Street completely. There is a clear role for parking enforcement staff to effectively tackle this.
I had a very prompt response this morning from the Director of Education and I am anxious to see progress to ensure pupil safety.