PARENTS at a school in Morningside are calling on the City of Edinburgh Council to make urgent road safety improvements in the area.
Nadia Cunden is behind the petition after her eight-year-old son Tristan was hit by a van in September on his way to school in an area that reportedly has limited school zone signage, double parking that obstructs views, and heavy bypass traffic.
The campaign calls for these issues to be resolved, and for additional speed bumps to be added in an effort to prevent accidents.
There have been multiple incidents on Edinburgh roads in recent weeks, some fatal, as the council plans to increase the city’s 20mph limit to 66 more roads.
Nadia Cunden spoke to STV News about the morning her son was hit, saying: “He started crossing. He was probably three-quarters of the way into crossing on his scooter.
“A van turned from Comiston Road into Morningside Drive and hit him.
“Tristan was on the floor, underneath the bonnet. He was scared. He was screaming.”
Thankfully, Tristan did not suffer any serious injuries, but Nadia is campaigning to make sure this sort of incident does not happen again.
She added: “There needs to be urgent action,”
“Something has happened, and I don’t want any other child, not mine, not any other school pupil, to go through this.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson told STV News: “We were called to a crash around 8:50am on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, on Morningside Drive.
“There were no reports of any injuries.
“A 39-year-old man was charged in connection with a road traffic offence and a report forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.”
The petition has now reached 264 out of 500 signatures and calls for “continental-style pedestrian crossings near Morningside Drive, Craiglea Drive, and Greenbank Drive” as well as the presence of “a crossing guard or community warden” at peak times, and “visible ‘School Zone’ signs with flashing lights, similar to those at St. Peter’s Primary School”.
There is an existing 20mph limit around the school, but parents still deem the roads unsafe for the 500 children who cross them daily.
In the short-term, the school has been encouraged to promote “walking initiatives” to decrease the amount of cars on the road, and to discourage parents from double parking.
In the long-term, road safety education programs should be implemented and the council is asked to redesign the street layout for safer pedestrian access.
During a Transport and Environment Committee meeting on Thursday, transport and environment convener, councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m very grateful to the petitioners for taking the time to address committee today and I empathise with their position.
“Officers will now explore the available options as quickly as possible. There will also be a site visit from committee members, ward councillors and officers to gain a better understanding of the current situation.
“Safety for all road users remains a key priority for us.”
