MP Gordon Banks has met concerned parents and pupils as part of an ongoing campaign to improve road safety on what will be one of Crieff’s busiest streets.
The MP has been working with residents on their safety concerns about the town’s Broich Road and has called on Perth and Kinross Council to explore all possible avenues of improving road safety.
Among the suggestions are creating wider roads, installing traffic-calming measures, and better maintenance and lighting of pavements.
Broich Road will soon become one of the busiest streets in Crieff as along its length are two primary schools (St Dominic’s and Crieff), a fire station and local businesses, as well as the Strathearn Community Campus which is home to Crieff High School.
The three schools have a combined roll of more than 1,000 pupils and preparatory work is also under way for the construction of a new Tesco store, which will be the town’s largest supermarket.
“It is undoubtedly a positive time for Crieff, with the construction of the new supermarket and new school, but I do worry that certain aspects of these plans are ill thought through,” said Mr Banks, who said he had been campaigning for years for improvements.
“Now these latest developments will mean that Broich Road will be one of the town’s busiest roads and I fear that nothing has been done to improve safety for the schoolchildren, parents and drivers using this stretch of road.”
A council spokesperson said that a number of improvements to Broich Road will be implemented in conjunction with Tesco as part of planning conditions to safeguard pedestrians and motorists, adding: “Traffic lights are to be installed at the junction between Broich Road and Burrell Street and a pedestrian crossing will be put in place at St Dominic’s Primary School, which is situated on Broich Road itself.
“Furthermore, a new pavement will run from Duchlage Road to Crieff’s new primary school and the road will be widened between Duchlage Road and the entrance to the new Tesco supermarket.
“The works are expected to commence shortly and be completed prior to Tesco opening.”