Fife Council say ban on traffic at Donibristle may not work

Councillor David Barratt said they're searching for solutions but Fife Council officers have warned an outright ban on traffic in the immediate vicinity may not work.

The South and West Fife area committee was told on Wednesday that various measures have been unsuccessful due to "anti-social" drivers taking their kids to and from the school in Dalgety Bay.

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Cllr Dave Dempsey said: "The concerns are coming from households on Morlich Road who look out their windows and see all sorts of manoeuvres that scare them stiff.

"They're thinking 'I'm going to be watching a child being run down' and that's what has led to this wave of concern."

Local residents have complained about parking problems outside Donibristle Primary School for years and years. (Image: Fife Council)

The convener of the committee, Cllr Barratt, said: "It is, unfortunately, down to a minority of lazy, selfish and thoughtless parents and guardians.

"It is locals that are doing this, it's nobody else, and we can hopefully find a solution to resolve that in the not too distant future."

In February Cllr Dempsey tabled a motion calling on the council to consider a ban on traffic - on the straight section of Morlich Road leading up to the school - after "years and years" of parking complaints by residents.

Lesley Craig, from the council's transportation service, said a ban could just move the problems elsewhere and advised putting off a decision until the summer, when the results of the trial of traffic exclusion zones at three primary schools in Cardenden, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes will be known.

She said the preliminary findings were "varied" and added: "In some areas it hasn't been a particular help as there are so many people ignoring it, exactly the same as those ignoring the double yellow lines or 'School Keep Clear' zig-zags, so we have the same problems with these zones.

"It's not a magical cure."

Parents and guardians are still parking their cars on the 'School Keep Clear' zig-zags outside Donibristle Primary School. (Image: Google Maps)

Ms Craig said parking problems are an issue at every school and they had been working with Donibristle staff for "many years" on this issue.

She continued: "We've attended parent council meetings, walkabouts with local members, residents, staff and police, we've put H-bar markings at driveways and 'School Keep Clear' zig-zags at every hammerhead area and raised the junction of Morlich Road and Morlich Crescent in an effort to try and keep the area clear of parked vehicles."

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Ms Craig said that, in 2022, the headteacher said there was still "unsafe" parking problems and a request was made for a pedestrian crossing on Moray Way, at The Firs.

There is now £50,000 in the budget for the works and the crossing should be in operation before April 2025.

A number of initiatives have been tried to improve road safety at Donibristle Primary, including a 'Be Bright Be Seen' message from the school's junior road safety officers. (Image: Donibristle Primary School)

Cllr Dempsey said: "The trouble, and this is no criticism of council officers, is that the measures applied so far haven't worked and they haven't worked because of an anti-social core of drivers who ignore them.

"And they ignore them because they don't think there's any downside.

"Enforcement of bad parking works when parking attendants are there but as we all know they can't be there all the time."

Cllr Patrick Browne said: "There are unfortunately some people that, rather than walk up and down the hill to take their kid to school, they take their car instead.

"It's an appeal to parents, carers, the drivers who are doing that and causing the problems - please just don't do it.

"I know the school will have tried to educate parents but if you're doing it please stop, give yourself an extra five minutes and walk your kid up the hill to school.

"That would solve the problems."