PHOTOGRAPHS of overturned lorries and crashed cars were part of the evidence persuading the local authority to retain Ury Estate to Mackie Academy school transport pending an independent report into safety at the AWPR junction.
While others are on a waiting list, some 12 pupils living at Ury Estate are taken to school each day by the service. Though sparing them a walk of 1.7 miles this is less than the 3-mile trudge needed to trigger the statutory provision of transport. This led Aberdeenshire Council to propose withdrawing the lift to school.
But this move will put on hold following today’s meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee. Councillors heard a public consultation held earlier this year saw 84% of the 86 respondents opposing the proposals. Parents highlighted concerns about road safety and the suitability of the route which includes the B979 and A92 (AWPR) junction.
Appendix 3 to the committee report shows photographs of incidents at the AWPR roundabout and the nearby light-controlled junction, including an overturned lorry and a car ploughed into the pedestrian crossing area – vital evidence of valid concerns about that point on the route.
Addressing the committee a council officer said: ”Members will know that concerns relating to the B979/A92 junction were a consistent theme running through the consultation.
”Since the report was prepared there has been progress in this area with Transport Scotland now supporting the requirement for Aberdeenshire Roads Ltd to undertake the independent junction review.
”This is a critical piece of work and reinforces the position set out in the report that no decision should be taken at this stage pending the outcome of that review.”
Members voted to accept the officers’ recommendation to defer any decision pending the review and a further report to the committee.
Feature image courtesy of Peter Mackintosh