The grieving mother of a toddler killed in a road crash has demanded “urgent action” to prevent further tragedy.
Sara Edwards made an emotive plea for new safety measures at Coupar Angus, four weeks after her two-year-old daughter Harlow was knocked down at one of the town’s busiest roads.
The 36-year-old spoke out at a meeting of the town’s community council on Monday night. She was joined by her husband Steve, 39, and 18-year-old daughter Dionne, who was also badly injured in the accident.
Around 30 residents attended the talks, which focused on proposed safety measures at Forfar Road.
Charles Haggart, traffic and network manager for Perth and Kinross Council, outlined a raft of measures the local authority wanted to put in place.
He had been asked by community councillors to investigate possible improvements last month, just days before the October 13 accident.
Mr Haggart proposed making 30mph signs larger and more visible, while combining them with the Coupar Angus gateway sign.
He said that plans were being drawn up for an electronic warning sign, which activated when approached by speeding traffic.
A part-time 20mph limit will also be introduced at the start and end of the school day.
However, Mrs Edwards said the proposals did not go far enough.
“From what we have seen, drivers on Forfar Road accelerate long before they reach the 60mph zone,” she said. “We need more than just signs. We need physical traffic calming measures to make it impossible for people to drive at speed.
“What we need is urgent action and I’m sure you all understand why we feel this way.”
She said that pavement on part of the road was too narrow. “We can’t even get Dionne through here with her wheelchair,” said Mrs Edwards. “There’s no pedestrian crossing. Children have to cross this busy road and they’re forced to stand on a grass verge.”
She said that traffic calming measures would have “made all the difference to us.”
Resident Jimmy Harris also unveiled a wishlist of proposals drawn up by the community, including the Harlow family.
The ambitious plan includes countdown speed signs, red tarmac with speed roundels, permanent speed cameras and raised puffin crossings.
A 20 mph zone with speed activated warning signs has also been proposed.
Mr Harris said parents were now too scared to let their children play at Larghan Park, off Forfar Road, because the traffic was so bad.
Chairwoman Wendy McCombes said that Mr Haggart would use the community proposal to draw up a report which would be presented to councillors at a later date.
The council had earlier agreed to postpone the creation of a traffic exclusion zone at the school until new safety plans were in place.
Meanwhile, a Crown Office spokesman has confirmed that the circumstances around the crash are still being investigation. No one has been charged.
He said: “The investigation into the death, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”
