A new crossing that has been installed on a busy road in Ralston has caused a stir among local residents who fear children’s lives could be put at risk.
A puffin crossing - traffic lights with a button for pedestrians - was recently installed on Penilee road, which will replace the lollipop person who used to help children navigate the crossing.
One concerned parent, who asked not to be named, said she fears for the safety of pupils at nearby Ralston Primary School when the crossing eventually goes live.
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As a parent of a child at the school, she said that the loss of the lollipop person could lead to tragic consequences on the road.
She said: “They’ve installed this crossing without consulting any of the local residents and they’ve just decided that they’re getting rid of the school crossing patrol.
"The crossing is at the bottom of a hill, which goes from a national speed limit to a 30mph road.
“I’m worried that the kids who walk to school on their own might not wait for the light because they think that there’s nothing coming and then something comes speeding over the hill, so it doesn’t matter if there’s a set of traffic lights there, it will be too late.
“If a kid steps out and there’s a car coming over the hill at who knows what speed, who knows what could happen.
“If there’s a lollipop person there, they’d stop them from crossing.”
The crossing is part of Renfrewshire Council's plans to improve road safety for school children. In November last year, the Express reported that more than 40 crossings throughout the local authority area had been identified to be overhauled as part of the project, thanks to funding of £560,000 from the council and SPT.
However, public opinion is that the new crossings will make things less safe on Penilee Road.
Carol-Anne McKay is mum to a six year old and a ten year old, and lives near the crossing. She said: "I have concerns and others on my street also have concerns."
Another mum, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: "We were not informed by any member of Renfrewshire Council that this work was being carried out. It was the workmen who informed residents and it is now on our doorstep.
"The crossing is an accident waiting to happen. The speed at which cars come over onto Penilee Road is a danger in its own, the lights turning red will cause sudden breaking from speeding vehicles, which in turn may be too late for stopping.
"We have also heard that the school patrolling officers that have worked here for years will be getting moved on because of the new light system, this will be a great loss to our local community."
Ralston Community Council Chairman Allan Thompson says they were not made aware of the changes either, saying that they first became aware of the new crossing a few weeks ago when they noticed works beginning at the site.
He said: “There was no consultation with anybody, including very particularly, specifically the people that live beside them.
“So all of a sudden, people can't park their cars because there’s traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing. So that's an issue that needs to be addressed.
“But the bigger issue is traffic is normally going fairly fast over that hill. It shouldn't, it should be doing 30mph, but even doing 30mph when you get to the brow of the hill, all of a sudden, if there are five or six cars stopped at the lights, you're going to smack into the back of it.”
Allan asked if a sign could potentially be installed to warn drivers of the upcoming lights, but boundary issues were cited as a reason for why this can't be done. He was told that Renfrewshire Council wouldn’t be installing a sign because that part of the road technically falls under the jurisdiction of Glasgow City Council.
“The whole thing sounds absolutely ridiculous, given there’s a safety issue.
“Also, the new traffic light system is replacing lollipop people who are there because it’s a very busy road right beside Ralston Primary School and Nursery School.
“The whole thing seems like layer upon layer of completely incomprehensible decision making.
“There was no consultation and they’ve put the traffic lights so close to the hill.”
Renfrewshire Council has been contacted for comment.
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