Published: Wednesday, 26th September, 2007 11:00
School safety suspicions
By Atholl Innes
Print Article
THE political hot potato that is currently Caddonfoot School took a new twist this week after Scottish Borders Council agreed to safety measures outside the school.
Councillors have clashed over the delayed start for a new school in the village, with parents claiming that they have been let down by promises.
And now, the Border Telegraph understands, that they think this is a ‘sop’ to appease their anger.
Councillor Bill Herd, along with the Community Council and the former School Board, have been campaigning for years for safety issues to be addressed.
Councillor Herd was not available for comment this week.
But Councillor Gavin Logan (Conservative), who previously said that he and Councillor Herd had been ‘kept in the dark’ over the delayed plans, said: “The Community Council and School Board have campaigned about this for years.
“This looks like a cynical attempt to jump on the bandwagon to appease Caddonfoot which has missed out so unfairly compared with the new schools for Peebles and Lauder.”
A 40mph temporary limit will be put in place during the school holiday week (October 8 to 15) to be followed by 20s Plenty Zones and roundels, as well as rumble surfacing.
Children will be given high visibility vests and parents of older children will be asked to use the village hall car park when dropping off and collecting their children.
The decision follows a meeting between Education chairperson Catriona Bhatia (Lib-Dem), parents and roads officials.
“These are to address concerns and in no way will inhibit our efforts to try to bring forward the start date for the new school,” said Councillor Bhatia.
Catriona Bird, chairperson of Clovenfords Community Council and a member of the former School Board (now a School Council), welcomed the decision.
“We have been fighting for a speed limit outside the school for a number years,” she said.
“As a parent and former member of the School Board, I am delighted to see that SBC is finally taking action.
“While we understand that a proposal for a 40 mph restriction outside the school was passed by the Area Committee in July.
“And while there are further stages for this process to be completed, we are pleased that the temporary signs are to be in place by October 8.”
Mrs Bird also took a swipe at SBC for the school delay.
“Caddonfoot has repeatedly been identified by SBC as being top priority for investment and we await with interest to hear what steps they are taking to ensure that the Caddonfoot new-build starts at the same time as Lauder and Kingsland,” she said.
“It would defy all logic if the school that SBC has consistently identified as ‘top priority for investment’ was to be delayed in order to allow other schools to be built first.”
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