The Kintyre Forum

I cannot comment on other schools in the area, but would be interested to know the experiences of others in relation to this topic. My particular grievance involves the junction opposite Smith Drive / Castlehill School where people think it is ok to park practically on the mouth of the junction, thus causing all sorts of problems with trafic flow and causing a further danger to padestrians who cannot see properly when crossing the junction. It states in the Highway Code that you should not park within 10 meters (32feet) of the junction, or where you would endanger, obstruct or inconvenience pedestrians or other road users. (I might point out also that some of these cars are left there ALL DAY, so it may not be the actual parents who are the problem.)

itsalwaysabadhairday wrote: (I might point out also that some of these cars are left there ALL DAY, so it may not be the actual parents who are the problem.)

I have spoken to my son who is in primary 6 and he assures me that he doesn't park his car on the corner...



In a serious note, this is a problem at every primary school in the country. There are two close by to me and parents even drop off their kids while double parked!!

Ive even seen parents parked outside at least 30 mins early, just to get as close to the gates as possible.

Just curious if they have transportation for school children who live more than a mile or two from school, or do those kids walk or depend on private transportation?

children who live outwith 2 or 3 miles of the school (i think?) get free transportation to and from school, although children who live within 2 or 3 miles can also use the service but there is a fare.

deleted due to apathy on my part

I live round the corner from Castlehill School & I think the main problem which causes congestion here is cars parking too close too the junction because if you are turning into Smith Drive the junction at Castlehill is only accessable on one side due to a parked car and it causes all sorts of manovering if you want into Smith Drive when someone else wants out! (I'm sure this is not just my lady driving which is at falt here ) Also when I was walking up with the pram I had to push the pram onto the road at the junction to see around the parked car to be able to see if it was safe to cross the junction, (when really I dont want to put the pram on the road in the first place untl I know its safe.) Shouldn't the junction be clear to allow free flowing traffic and clear vision for those on foot? This could be solved by just parking up the street a wee bit.

Ooo just had some sour grapes there, nearly made me sick!!
Heard a nice wee quip the other day that I thought I would share. . 'Empty vessels make the most noise!'

Although I do agree in part, well one third actually, I feel our elected members for argyll are running on 2 out of 3 engines. Hopefully the flight to success for Kintyre shall be up and running again shortly.

Got to completely agree about the parking at the school area. When meeting a car it is a squeeze or you have to mount the pavement which is illegal!

I don't think the new drop off system has stopped congestion in anyway. People should be parking a safe distance away from the junction.

What was to happen if an ambulance was to come through and met a car? Children are having to cross between the cars to go toward Ralston Road which is a danger.

And a Twenty's Plenty sign is needed. Maybe not for school time, but for the idiots who drive too fast up and down the street!

SmithD wrote:And a Twenty's Plenty sign is needed. Maybe not for school time, but for the idiots who drive too fast up and down the street!

There are 20mph signs with flashing lights at both Dalintober and Castlehill primary schools which drivers seem to ignore, after enquiring about the speeding drivers I was told it was a grey area for the police as there were no signs telling the drivers where the 20mph area ends so technically the 20mph is not legal.

I was meaning Twenty's plenty in Smith Drive, frm the Witchburn side and round. The signs are only in the school area on Ralston Road.

But I know what you mean about drivers ignoring the signs, especially after they have had the inconvience of stopping for the lolly pop man.

Twentys plenty signs are only advisory, the speed limit for the roads are still 30mph.

Advisory or not, anyone with just an ounce of sense should know to slow down, after all its better to hit your brakes than hit a child.
Its time the grey area talked about was removed, and a proper area clearly marked onto the road surface, otherwise this farce will continue to be just that, a farce, and the safety of the children will remain in jeopardy.

Pushing a pram out onto the road, before you know if its clear or not, is not a very clever thing to do either is it.

- well it was either push the pram out a wee bit to crane my neck around the parked car on the junction, or leave it sitting alone on the pavement (which was busy with kids coming out of school), while I walked out to have a look. Either way it's not safe, hence the need for somthing to be done about the parking on the junction problem.

Auld Pop wrote:Advisory or not, anyone with just an ounce of sense should know to slow down, after all its better to hit your brakes than hit a child.
Its time the grey area talked about was removed, and a proper area clearly marked onto the road surface, otherwise this farce will continue to be just that, a farce, and the safety of the children will remain in jeopardy.

Pushing a pram out onto the road, before you know if its clear or not, is not a very clever thing to do either is it.

Unfortunately in this town there are some people with no sense that don't even do the 30 limit! The police should be supervising the schools more closely so they can see first hand what it is like.

But I think what was mean about crossing the road, it was an example of how dangerous it is to cross when cars are at the junctions, kids could just run between them - it's a blind spot. The junction should be kept clear at the stated length so that it is clear for everyone.

Anyway she does a great job of pushing that lovely pram, with the even more lovely baby.