CONCERNED parents are speaking out about a “terrifying” stretch of road next to two schools in North Berwick, after a 12-year-old was struck by a van.

Haddington Road has a 30mph speed limit but anxious parents of children at Law Primary and North Berwick High Schools are calling for the entire stretch to be made 20mph.

A 20mph stretch begins about four metres before Law Primary School’s gate and parents say there are no speed-slowing measures, resulting in cars “hurtling down the hill of Haddington Road, picking up speed and then turning the corner to children crossing the road”.

A recent incident involving an S1 pupil has ignited further fear for parents in the area.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.30pm on Wednesday, November 10, officers were called to a report of a 12-year-old girl struck by a van on the B1347, North Berwick.

“She was taken to hospital to be checked over, then later released.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson added: “We are aware that a North Berwick High School pupil was involved in a collision with a vehicle near to the junction of Lochbridge Road and Haddington Road on November 10.

“Police and ambulance were called to attend and the young person was taken to hospital with minor injuries before being discharged.

“She has since returned to school.”

A concerned parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Families are expected to walk down this pavement with cars, buses, lorries hurtling past at at least 30mph.

“The nature of the road encourages you to pick up speed as it is wide, straight and goes downhill.

“There are no signs about it being a school area until you get right to the school.

“There are no crash barriers along this stretch of road – particularly needed at the bottom of the bank as this is where children regularly fall off scooters and bikes into the road as they shoot off the corner after gaining speed coming down the hill – literally not nearly a week goes by without us receiving messages of near misses.”

Another concern from families in the area relates to Covid restrictions, which mean parents are unable to wait in the school playground to collect their children, unless the child is in primary four or below.

This has resulted in packed pavements, with people “having to step onto the main road to make way for prams, bikes, scooters and dogs”.

One parent said that the issues had been discussed with East Lothian Council, North Berwick Community Council, North Berwick Trust, the school and parent council, but that no solution had been found.

They added: “There has been no movement in years to try to ensure our kids can get to and from school safely.”

A number of safety measures have been suggested, including a path from the newbuild homes to take children directly into school premises, a crash barrier along the pavement, a crossing from Lochbridge Road across Haddington Road – which is currently overseen by a crossing patrol during peak hours – or a reduced speed limit to 20mph as soon as cars enter North Berwick.

Additionally, parents are seeking an increase in signage on Haddington Road to alert drivers that they are approaching schools.