Parents begging for road safety near Glasgow school

The alarm has been raised after the streets surrounding Clyde Primary School in Knightswood were branded “dangerous” by mums and union members.

This year two school crossing patrollers retired but have yet to be replaced by the council, and GMB Union say there are no road markings to help pedestrians cross.

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The heavy traffic “hurtles” down Alderman Road and Hawick Street around 9am and 3pm when the school opens and closes, leaving parents extremely concerned.

Glasgow City Council is now working to introduce a speed cushion and hire school crossing guards.

Karen Ritchie, 32, sends her seven-year-old son Callum Ritchie to Clyde Primary School and has serious concerns about the roads.

She said: “There is nowhere safe for the kids to cross especially as they get older and maybe want to walk themselves. They can't due to the number of cars that are coming across.

“There's not enough lights for the kids to cross either, I feel it is unsafe.

“Before the school's finished there were two school crossing patrollers but both retired and no one has taken over for them.

“We need to replace them or put lights in, or ideally both. Even a zebra crossing or something because it can get so busy here.

“At Alderman Road, some of the cars come round so quickly, it is an accident just waiting to happen.”

Clyde pupils Harris Craig, 8, with Mason Reid, 6. (Image: Newsquest)

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Caroline Craig, 35, is mum to school pupil Harris Craig, eight, and said: “The cars can be right in the distance and you think you can make it, but then you need to pull back at the last minute because they come up so fast.

“My son has been asking to walk home from school, I would let him if I didn’t think it was so dangerous.

“They did have a lollipop man but he wasn’t replaced, they really need to get new ones.”

Cheryl Duff, 40, who is mum to school pupil Mason Reid, six, said: “There used to be a lollipop man here but not anymore.

"The road does feel unsafe. Cars are coming from every direction, they can be really bad. I would like to see it get better.”

John Slaven from GMB union (Image: Newsquest)

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John Slaven, GMB organiser, said: “We are really concerned about Alderman Road near the Clyde campus.

“There have been patrol staff and school crossing staff who have been retired and haven’t been replaced, but this is one of the busiest schools in Glasgow.

“Cars hurtle off the roundabout next to the school and there are nurseries and young kids in the area.

“You would never know it is a school crossing, our members are having to take their lives in their hands to stop the car and they can face abuse as well.

“The union is being accused of being dramatic but these concerns are not dramatic, this is an accident waiting to happen.

“The council needs to get the staff replaced and they need to get proper crossing markings for this whole area. They cannot say they have not been warned.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “We have been monitoring road safety concerns in this area and listening to feedback from the community.

“Work to introduce a speed cushion at the junction of Hawick Street and Beil Drive is due to begin in the coming weeks and we are hopeful that will help to calm traffic on the approach to the school.

“We are also in the process of recruiting two school crossing patrollers to support pupils on their journey to school.”