Parents who have witnessed near misses on a busy road near a Fife primary school have welcomed cash for a long-awaited pedestrian crossing.
Fife Council has pledged £35,000 for a traffic light-controlled puffin crossing on Cupar’s South Road, which will help children walking to and from Castlehill Primary School.
More traffic calming measures have already been promised for nearby Ceres Road, but are yet to be installed.
Parent council chairwoman Holly Clark said a child was almost struck by a vehicle just a few days ago.
News that a crossing is to be installed within the next few months on the main thoroughfare into the town comes amid concern about a lack of lollipop men and women in the town.
Holly said: “We had a near miss last Friday when a child was attempting to cross the zebra crossing on Ceres Road.
“The traffic situation is a big concern and I know I’m not the only one to have had to pull a child out of the way of a car.
“I hope the enhanced safety measures will make drivers more cautious in the area.”
As well as the crossing at the traffic island near Tesco, the local authority is developing a plan for speed cushions and more signs on Ceres Road.
Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram, the SNP’s senior spokeswoman for transportation on the council, has pushed for enhanced safety measures for children in the area.
Although the council is trying to recruit another crossing patrol officer, she called for the work to be done before the present incumbent retires.
Pleased that the funds were approved by the council’s north-east Fife area committee, she said: “The town is suffering from a lack of crossing patrol officers and if this crossing cannot be covered manually, then at least pedestrians will be able to cross safely.
“At busy periods at the start and end of the school day the road can be very busy and it is completely understandable that parents have expressed concern.”
She added: “Ceres Road is also a huge concern there is a lot of traffic movement here at peak times and the lack of a crossing patrol officer is far from ideal.
“The enhanced traffic calming measures will, hopefully, increase driver awareness.”
Castlehill Primary School has had issues with inappropriate driving and parking in its vicinity and parents have already been warned by the head teacher against endangering pupils by parking using the staff car park.