A PIONEERING traffic ban introduced to protect children making their way to and from a trio of Haddington schools has been reintroduced – after 18 months when it could not be enforced.
Vehicles were banned from travelling on Neilson Park Road, Victoria Road and Wemyss Place outside the Haddington Infant and St Mary’s RC Primary School joint campus, and King’s Meadow Primary School, in January 2014.
The order, which ran for an 18-month trial period, proved so successful that councillors agreed to make it permanent in June 2015.
However, that never happened – due to a member of the public lodging an objection – and the trial period expired the following month. No order has been in place since.
A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council explained why another temporary order was necessary and said: “The reason we have moved to make another temporary order is that a local resident is objecting to the permanent arrangements and through negotiations hasn’t and will not withdraw his objection.
“Regrettably, the legislation requires the matter to be referred to the Scottish Government to adjudicate (DPEA), so we will have to engage with them and prepare our case. This takes time, so we were forced to move on safety grounds to secure the current arrangements, allowing the police to take the necessary actions to enforce and maintain the current arrangements.
“To allow the order to lapse will open up access and return the situation back to the untenable position where there was a real risk of injury due to indiscriminate parking and driving behaviour.”
The order prohibits any vehicle, with exceptions such as emergency services, from driving on any of the three streets at certain times.
Vehicles are banned 8.30-9.30am, 11.45am-1pm, and 3-4pm Monday to Thursday. On Friday, vehicles are banned 8.30-9.30am, and 11.45am-12.45pm.
Concerns were previously raised at community meetings in Haddington that it had simply created parking problems elsewhere in the town, such as on Mill Wynd, near the Aubigny Sports Centre.
Police officers will monitor the three busy roads – and surrounding streets – ahead of private parking attendants being able to issue fines, which is due to take place on Monday. Police and parking attendants will then work together to tackle the issue.
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