Mearns roads management have said they will look at other safety measures for Marykirk after standing firm on a decision not to put a pedestrian crossing close to a new village housing development.
The 27-house scheme at Wester Balmanno Way received the green light earlier this year but councillors had raised the possibility of a controlled crossing being installed on the busy A937 through the village.
Kincardine and Mearns area committee members have now been told the expected upturn in foot traffic around the village primary school does not reach the threshold of the authority’s pedestrian crossing assessment policy.
At least 120 pedestrian movements per hour would be required during peak vehicle flows on a road such as the A937.
Infrastructure services director Stephen Archer told councillors: “The level of flow needed will not be generated by the new 27-house development and existing 30-house development at Wester Balmanno Way.
“The roads development team would generally only recommend considering developers carry out a formal assessment to justify installation of a controlled pedestrian crossing on busy main distributor roads for new development activity totalling 150 to 200 houses.”
The official said experience suggests the 57 homes would, at best, generate a peak hour flow in the region of 45 to 70 pedestrian movements.
“This is an exceedingly generous assessment as it assumes all primary school children would walk to school and they would all be accompanied by one parent/adult per child. It also assumes that all secondary school pupils would also travel to school by bus.”
Other factors including traffic speeds, accident history and waiting times for pedestrians to cross are also part of the council calculations.
Mr Archer’s report added: “Although a crossing point on the A937 does not meet with the requirements set out, there are other interventions that can be undertaken to promote safe access to the school in Marykirk.
“Be Safe, Be Seen is an initiative that promotes road safety to school pupils and has been carried out at similar schools in Aberdeenshire where concerns have been raised regarding a safe route to school.
“Parksmart is aimed at congestion near the school and encourages parents to park responsibly and consider “park and stride” to reduce congestion at the school gate.
“Officers from transportation will engage with the school to determine which initiative may be appropriate.”
