By Dave Lord

PUPILS AT the Loch Leven Community Campus in Kinross are being forced to dice with death en route to the brand new school, concerned parents have claimed.

Perth and Kinross Council has been urged to take “immediate action” as youngsters face a daily struggle to cross a busy arterial route close to the campus without any assistance.

Sheila Heron, a mother speaking on behalf of a group of local parents, insists it is a “very serious” issue, but says repeated pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

“We have a fantastic new community campus but we are at our wits’ end trying to get safe access for our children entering the grounds at the north end nearest to Milnathort,” she said.

“An access point was quite deliberately made within the wall at the north end of the campus.

“This was brilliant, taking pupils off the roadside pavements, mostly behind a brick wall, on a pavement that can walk at least four abreast.

“However, the dangerous issue arises when trying to access this fantastic walkway...as pupils from some areas within Milnathort have no safe way of crossing the busy A922.”

Ms Heron said the problem was being compounded by increased traffic at the beginning and end of the school day.

“The pavement on the east side of the A922 and just north of the entrance is only 0.7m wide,” she continued.

“Some of the pavement just north of that is rough tarmac. It is also under trees and, at this time of the year, is covered with wet and slippery leaves.

“However, if pupils walk on the better west side of the A922 they then have to cross in a 40mph speed limit with absolutely no assistance.”

Ms Heron said the problem was all the more bizarre as access to the campus from elsewhere has clearly been carefully considered with safety a top priority.

“Pupils accessing the campus from the Kinross end have three toucan crossings to choose from, two of which are in 20mph zones,” she said.

“We have continually written to various departments and people.

“Some have completely washed their hands of the issue...while others have verbally agreed with us but asked us to be patient.”

Campaigners fear further delays could have dire consequences.

“Our question is how long do we have to wait?” Ms Heron said.

“How many children have to be hurt or killed while we wait?

“Pupils from Milnathort have just as much right to safe access to the campus as those from Kinross.”

Contacted by The Courier, a spokesman for the council said the issues raised by concerned parents were being examined.

“The safety of school pupils while travelling to and from school is, of course, a primary concern for Perth and Kinross Council,” he said.

“Before all of our new community campuses are opened, the surrounding roads are analysed and road safety features such as speed limits and controlled crossings are installed wherever they are deemed necessary.

“However, it is only once a campus is open that we can get a real picture of pupil travel patterns.

“These travel patterns are analysed and traffic levels are monitored to find out whether additional road safety measures or crossings are required.

“This work is currently ongoing at the new Loch Leven Community Campus, and will highlight whether any additional road safety measures are needed.

“If we feel that pupils are at risk then action will be taken.”