Parents demand action on busy crossing

Hundreds of parents at a Broughty Ferry school have urged Dundee City Council to reinstate a lollipop service at a busy crossing point.

Earlier this month, 431 parents and carers of students at Forthill Primary signed a petition demanding the return of a well-loved lollipop lady to her crossing point.

Popular Freda Doig was removed from her long-held post after Tayside Contracts, Freda’s employers, became concerned she was helping students cross over both Balgillo Road and Forthill Road.

Tayside Contracts argue Forthill Road is not an official crossing point and that as such, Freda should cross at Balgillo Road only.

Despite initially moving Freda to an alternative crossing following a disagreement, a wave of public pressure saw the experienced public servant reinstated to her familiar location.

Though they have achieved their aim of ensuring Freda is once more stationed outside Forthill Primary, parents believe the lack of an official crossing at Forthill Road must be addressed.

Angela Lyall, who created the petition calling for the return of Freda, said: “The 431 parents and ­carers who signed my ­petition made two dem­ands.

“They wanted Fre­da, our crossing patro­ller, returned to working on the crossing point at Balgillo Road — and thankfully that ­has been achieved.

“But we are still waiting for the withdrawn crossing over Forthill­ Road to be reinstated.

“As this is apparently too much for one ­crossing patroller to­ undertake, the council will need to pay for an additional patr­oller and find a suitable crossing point between the junctions ­of Forthill Road with­ Balgillo Road and Lu­ke Place.”

Ferry councillor Laurie Bidwell said: “Many people are perplexed that if it is too dangerous for a crossing patroller to work at that point, then how is it a safe crossing for children?

“The council has issued advice that the safe route to school is to walk along the other side of the street and cross at Fintry Place and Luke Place.

“But those are both busy roads which are choked up with parents parking in the area.

“Michael Wood (the director of children and families services) has been in touch with the transportation manager and they’re looking at resurveying the area to see if there is a safer place for an additional crossing patroller.

“I’m very prepared to take this back to council committee if necessary.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We have requested that a survey is carried out.”