Issue - meetings

By Councillor Campbell - Hamilton Drive School Streets Signs

“Council notes that the school streets sign in Hamilton Drive have not been working for over a year and a half.

Notes this sign is for an area where there are two primary schools in very close proximity, one of which is a Roman Catholic school with a large catchment and therefore a higher likelihood of parents driving their children to school.

Notes that the police say that they cannot issue fines if the flashing lights are not working.

Notes that new signs were ordered and arrived in November last year but they were too big for the poles and so were not able to be installed.

Notes there was an update that these would be installed in May of this year.

Notes the most recent update was that there is an issue with the relay for the signs, only discovered in August this year, and that there is now a process to look at a quote for replacement which has not been approved.

Recognises that it is totally unacceptable for safety around our school streets for a sign to be out of action for this long, with no confirmation at this stage that it will even get replaced.

Agrees that there should be an audit of all school streets signs to ensure that they are all in working order, keeping children and young people safe as they go to and from school.

Agrees that the ward Councillors in Portobello Craigmillar and Craigentinny Duddingston, the parent councils at Duddingston Primary and St Johns and the Community Councils of Portobello and Northfield Willowbrae will all receive a briefing note setting out a timeline for when they can expect these signs to be replaced.

Agrees that all contracts for school streets signs will be reviewed to ensure we are receiving best value.”