Pupil's mum calls for improved road safety provision outside Kinloss Primary School
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A MOTHER who is new to the area is calling for improved road safety provision for local schoolchildren.
Nicole Crawford and her son Nathan (7) moved to Kinloss in September and were surprised to find no crossing patrol officer or pedestrian/zebra crossing near the primary school on the B9089 road.
Nicole said: "There is none anywhere on the main road to provide safe passage for kids or anyone else. I was even more surprised to see how quickly the traffic whizzed by or would slow but not stop as they drive past families waiting to cross."
She added: "I recently witnessed a five-year-old boy almost get knocked down by a car that didn't bother to stop. It was so close that, had he stuck his tongue out, he could have licked the car!
"I'm scared for the safety of the kids and tired of the issue being ignored by Moray Council."
A total of 29 school crossing patrol officers were made redundant as a result of cost-cutting during Moray Council's the 2019/2020 budget.
Nicole was advised by Kinloss Primary to register her complaint with the local authority.
"I first did nearly three months ago," she said, "only to be be continuously told someone would get back to me but no one ever did."
Nicole used the Freedom of Information Act to see if she could find out how many other people had made similar requests in the last few years.
"It came back as nil," she said. "This surprised me as the school confirmed they have been asking for seven years!
"It always comes down to money. The council are waiting for someone to get injured or killed before they'll do anything about it."
Nicole wants to see a full pedestrian crossing built outside the school on the Burghead road.
She said: "There isn't one suitable for schoolchildren anywhere nearby."
Moray Councillor George Alexander (Forres, Independent) confirmed he has been emailed by another parent on the subject.
He said: "It was discussed in detail at the recent parent association meeting so it is being followed up. I would always encourage members of the public to contact a councillor because officers cannot ignore our requests for information."
