Downfield Primary School crossing patrol points to remain while traffic ban is imposed

Three school crossing patrol points at Downfield Primary which were to be scrapped have been granted a reprieve.

Removal of the lollipop crossings is on hold until part-time traffic restrictions around the Dundee school, which have been approved, are up and running.

In streets where the scheme – known as Safer Streets – will soon be implemented driving will be prohibited on school days from 8.30am to 9.15am and 3pm to 3.30pm.

The streets where the ban will apply are Haldane Street, Haldane Terrace, Haldane Crescent and Haldane Place.

Proposals to remove the school crossing points were drawn up last year, with parents being given until earlier this year to make their views known and object.

Which crossing points were under threat?

The three crossings under threat of removal near Downfield Primary are:

• Haldane Crescent at the school gate
• Gillburn Road at Downfield Surgery car park
• Across Strathmartine Road at Haldane Street

Scottish Liberal Democrat councillor for Strathmartine Daniel Coleman opposed the decision and asked for the issue to be discussed further at a meeting of Dundee City Council’s children and family services committee, which took place on Monday night.

Decision on crossing patrollers on hold

Mr Coleman said: “The convener and I had some conversations and we are going to hold off on any decision because there are some Safer School Streets to come into force so we will see how this goes and come back to this at a future date.”

Committee convener Stewart Hunter said: “The suggestion I put to councillor Coleman which he was more than happy to agree to is that we should not consider this just now.

“We should allow the Safer Streets to go through its whole process and keep the school crossing patrollers in place for that time period.

“Once Safer Streets is firmly in place we can review this again to see what needs to happen.”