A NEW scheme banning drivers from a busy street outside Dunbar Primary School has been launched.

East Lothian Council has introduced traffic restrictions to the times vehicles are allowed along Countess Crescent, beside the John Muir Campus of Dunbar Primary School, on the back of a similar scheme currently in place in Haddington.

That came into force on Thursday to tie in with youngsters going back to school after the summer break.

Ward councillor Michael Veitch was pleased to see the scheme getting the go-ahead.

“The last time I spoke to transportation officers, it was confirmed it would be in place before the school term started back,” he said.

“I heard at the Dunbar Community Council meeting that signs [highlighting the order] are already up as well.” The scheme prohibits any vehicles, other than blue badge and permit holders, as well as emergency vehicles, from driving on Countess Crescent between 8.30am and 9.30am Monday-Friday.

Vehicles are also banned from 2.45pm to 3.45pm Monday-Thursday and 11.45am-12.45pm on a Friday.

The restrictions only apply during the school term.

Mr Veitch added: “Countess Crescent was previously closed completely because of the construction works at the new community centre but the order to close the street expired. We had to make a decision to re-open the street or put in a restriction.

“Putting in a temporary closure during the peak pick-up and drop-off times was a sensible way forward where everyone can use the road outwith those times.” The decision was made after consultation with the school’s headteacher, police and parent council, as well as the local authority.

Mr Veitch, the local authority’s transport spokesman, felt the new restrictions were “a sensible compromise”.

Constable Gavin Ross was at the town’s community council meeting earlier this week and confirmed police would be in the area over the coming weeks to ensure the order was enforced.

Drivers are likely to be reminded or educated about the order initially but could be fined if they continue to breach it.

The scheme follows on the back of a similar project which was launched in Haddington earlier this year.

There, vehicles are not allowed to drive on Neilson Park Road, Victoria Road and Wemyss Place for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.

The 18-month trial was put in place following public consulation and the three roads surround King’s Meadow Primary School, and Haddington Infant and St Mary’s Primary School joint campus.