EFFORTS are being made to “minimise” traffic disruption around the site of a primary school currently under construction in Kelso.

That is the message from Scottish Borders Council to anxious parents of children at 250-pupil Broomlands Primary. 

The school will be demolished early next year when a £10m replacement is completed on an adjacent site in the town’s Ednam Road.

At a recent council meeting, Councillor Euan Robson (Lib Dem, Kelso & District) said the Parent Council had expressed concerns over the safety implications for their children of the extra traffic movements and the loss of parking places generated by the construction works.

He wanted to know if any kind of traffic management study had been carried out before or since the works had begun.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, executive member for roads and infrastructure, said a transport statement had been prepared in 2015 by a firm of consultants which concluded there were no transport related issues preventing the award of planning consent.

“It should be emphasised that the new school is currently under construction, resulting in considerable additional traffic movements in the area in preparation for its scheduled winter opening.

“This traffic is in addition to the normal day-to-day activity from the existing adjacent school. Once the transfer to the new school is complete and the existing school demolished, it is anticipated that parking and traffic management in the area will be much improved.

“In the interim, council staff continue to work with police, the main contractor and the head teacher to minimise disruption.”

Cllr Robson said the Parent Council was unaware of what parking arrangements were proposed during the demolition phase.

Cllr Edgar told him: “I will ask our officers to liaise with the Parent Council and give an assurance that the safety of children is always paramount.”