New road safety improvements to benefit pupils attending school in Haddington will be explored following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 11 November.
The Cabinet approved starting the statutory procedure to consult on a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which would extend traffic restrictions on the town’s Victoria Road.
Pupils walking or cycling on Victoria Road have encountered issues caused by drivers bringing their vehicles too close to the school gates. Concerns have been raised by the Haddington Primary School Parent Council and Haddington Central Tenants and Residents Association that the current restrictions don’t cover nursery times which start at 8:15am and can extend until 5:45pm.
Under the School Streets scheme, motorists are prohibited from driving on Victoria Road, Neilson Park Road, and Wemyss Place between 8:30am and 9:30am, 11:45am and 1pm, and 3pm and 4pm on Monday to Thursday. The restrictions are in effect between 8:30am and 9:30am and 11:45am and 12:45pm on Fridays.
Proposed extension
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The behaviour of some drivers, including those making dangerous turning and reversing manoeuvres on Victoria Road, presents a risk to pupils, parents, and carers.
“I’m pleased that a proposed extension of the restrictions to help people walk and cycle more safely to and from school will now undergo consultation.”
The Cabinet also agreed to progress statutory procedures to create or amend a number of TROs across East Lothian. This included the stopping-up of the old access into the former Wallyford Primary School on Albert Place, a site where 60 new council homes are to be built.
Proposed TROs for new speed limits will also be considered including a 20mph restriction on the old A1 at Dunbar’s Haines Drive from the west of Yosemite Park to the end of the cul-de-sac, a 20mph limit in the new housing development at Musselburgh’s Ravensheugh Brae, and an extension of the existing 40mph speed limit northwards to Lawhead junction on the A198 at Tyninghame.
Statutory consultation
Similar consideration will be given to TROs proposing a 40mph limit at Elphinstone’s Pearlstane Steading from the B6414 junction eastwards for around 350 metres, the extension of the 20mph limit southwards to the new housing development at Pilgrims Way in North Berwick’s Haddington Road, the extension of the 30mph limit at the A199 on the east side of Wallyford to include the frontage of the new housing development towards Dolphingstone, and the reduction of the existing 40mph limit to 30mph on the B1377 within Drem Village.
New 40mph buffer limits in advance of existing 30mph limits will also be considered at both the B6363 Coal Road in Longniddry and A198 Seton Sands.
The Cabinet further approved statutory consultation on making or amending TROs covering prohibitions or restrictions on waiting, loading, and unloading at various locations across the county. A full list of these measures can be found on the council website here https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/17477/cabinet