Councillors approve more traffic restrictions near Fife schools

Members of Kirkcaldy Area committee decided to make a temporary one-way system on Kirkcaldy’s Methven Road permanent despite community complaints.

The system was trialled to give school buses somewhere convenient to park and clear the streets of parked cars, making them safer for children entering Kirkcaldy West Primary School.

During this time Fife Council received one objection from a local resident on William Street. The objector claims traffic levels have increased and junctions on William Street and Methven Road have become less safe to cross.

However, these claims were dismissed in a report prepared for the committee by Ken Gourlay, Fife Council’s head of assets, transportation and environment. He said feedback from the school bus operator for Kirkcaldy West Primary had shown that Stagecoach has not experienced any issues with the bus stands on Methven Road or the temporary one-way system currently in operation which would indicate the arrangement is working well.

Kirkcaldy Central councillor Alistair Cameron told the committee he had been on a walk in the area with a member of Kirkcaldy West Community Council who lives in William Street, but said he could not see a way for the system to be changed. He said: “It is quite clear the safety of the children is paramount and these new restrictions will help that. I can understand there is extra traffic but to me it is minimal.”

Kirkcaldy East councillor Rod Cavanagh asked whether the situation would be monitored and he was told monitoring would be ongoing and if further tweaks were needed these would be done.

Mr Gourlay also recommended that councillors override two objections to formally confirm temporary restrictions for Burntisland’s East Toll Roundabout, adjacent to Burntisland Primary School.

No waiting at any time’ restrictions were introduced on the school’s access road on Cowdenbeath Road and the southern edge of the roundabout itself. The latter had been marked with ‘keep clear’ zig-zag lines prior.

Two residents living close to the zig-zags on Aberdour Road had objected to the ‘no waiting’ restrictions on the grounds that they may have difficulty getting parked close to their home – but the objections were set aside and the committee approved the new restrictions.

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