RESIDENTS fear a child could be killed unless action is taken to make a Galashiels road safer.

Frustrated locals Albert Cruickshank, Claire Baillie and Elspeth Johnston are urging Scottish Borders Council to bring in a raft of safety improvements at Langlee Drive.

These include more prominent signage and speed bumps on the road, which is used by parents to drop-off and pick up their children at the nearby Langlee Primary School.

After months of misery caused by speeding motorists, Elspeth has set up a petition calling for changes to be made on the street.

She told the Border Telegraph: “Since setting up the petition a few days ago, we have had around 140 signatures so far, and expect more in the coming days.

“A wee child could be killed by the speeding motorists on this road unless something is done to make it safer. We want to act now before something happens.”

The road safety concerns have been raised several times by Langlee resident Albert Cruickshank on our ‘YourSay’ letters page.

And he has now enlisted the help of Borders MP John Lamont (Cons). Mr Lamont said: “I have written to Scottish Borders Council about the matter.

“I understand that measures have been taken around the school in particular but I’d expect the council to take residents’ concerns seriously and to continue to monitor speeds on the road, as they have been doing already.

“However, motorists also need to take some responsibility and problems such as irresponsible parking and speeding are all too common around a number of schools in the Borders.

“As well as speed reducing measures, this type of poor driving needs to stop.”

SBC told us: “The council works closely with the primary school to encourage pupils and parents to walk, cycle, scooter or park and stride, with the school picking up the Active School Travel Award for the Galashiels area earlier this year for its work on this issue. The council has carried out surveys at Langlee Drive and found the average speed to be under 20mph.

“At present, there are no plans to carry out further works at Langlee Drive.”

The petition is available to sign at several nearby premises’, including the Woodcutter Pub, the Fei Wong Chinese Takeaway, Langlee Chippy, the Spar store on Marigold Bank, and Andy’s Grocery Shop.