Councillors asked to approve more traffic restrictions near schools

The Kirkcaldy Area committee will discuss making 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, which must be addressed before the scheme can be made permanent.

The objector claims traffic levels have increased and junctions on William Street and Methven Road have become less safe to cross.

Each qualm was dismissed in turn in a report prepared for the committee by Ken Gourlay, Fife Council’s head of assets, transportation and environment.

Mr Gourlay wrote: “Feedback from the school bus operator for this school has shown that Stagecoach have not experienced any issues with the bus stands on Methven Road or the temporary one-way system currently in operation which would indicate that this arrangement is working well.”

Elsewhere, Mr Gourlay is also recommending 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, to the south-west of the school, have objected to the ‘no waiting’ restrictions on the grounds that they may have difficulty getting parked close to their home – but Mr Gourlay says this is not a substantive reason to refuse them.

“Regrettably, no household has a right to the road space directly outside theproperty on the public highway, so any available space is open to anyone,” he wrote in his report.

Final decisions on both traffic orders ill be made at the committee on Tuesday.