Will zebra crossing help road safety in Fife town?

Fife Council believes the crossings will improve pedestrian safety, and has included them in the draft area roads programme that will be considered by the North East Fife Area Committee next month.

It says it has received concerns from residents and visitors about safety issues on the street.

However, opinion among local councillors is split on the issue.

Cllr Brian Thomson said: “I share their view that the proposal would improve pedestrian safety, help calm vehicle speeds, give more priority to vulnerable user groups, and introduce pedestrian crossing consistency in the town centre.

“I take the view that pedestrians should have priority over motor vehicles in the town centre, and I’d like to see pedestrianisation introduced, for example in Market Street.”

But fellow St Andrews councillor Ann Verner said she thought the addition of another two zebra crossings was “unnecessary”.

She added: “The town is already gridlocked most days as it is, with the crossings at Bell Street being a prime example. Putting another two at Church Street, in my opinion, will just aggravate the problem. What next, another one in the middle of Market Street?”

St Andrews Community Council has also said that it sees “no real need” for the crossings.

Callum MacLeod, chair of the community council, said: “We could see no advantage to the installation of crossings.We will, however, be reviewing our position on this matter at our February Monthly Meeting, in consultation with our Fife Council colleagues.”