Officers from the Council's Transportation Division recently met with members of the local community, elected representatives, parents and other interested parties to hear their concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians using the pavement opposite the church, from the bridge. Unfortunately, there is no appropriate or obvious engineering solution such as widening either the road or the pavement, or both, as they are bounded by high stone walls.

Another option, relocating the east side of the traffic signals to allow widening of part of the pavement , would mean the inclusion of two access roads between the signals but drivers using these accesses would not be able to see the signals. The traffic signals were installed in 1994 and the footway from Dovecote Way eastwards to the east side of the bridge was widened as much as practicable shortly after.

Relocating the signals would remove most of the existing roadside parking at the church and almost double the distance between the stop lines to nearly 200 metres. This would result in an excessive inter-green time (when both signals are at red). This would be needed to allow slower vehicles, cyclists, mobility scooters and horses to clear before the opposing signals turn to green. Sometimes even over the existing layout, they don't have adequate time. Recently when temporary signals where operating, the Council had several reports of horse riders meeting vehicles coming from the opposite direction in between the signals. Traffic signal design guidelines also advise that over-long inter-green periods frustrate drivers and increase the likelihood of them running red lights. The main road red times would also have be further increased to include the phases required for the safe inclusion of the vehicles emerging from the private accesses. 

Most pedestrians walking to school can avoid the narrow pavement by using an alternative path between the rear of the primary school and the School Crossing Patrol Guide on Lempockwells Road although a small part of this, adjacent to the school, has a stepped arrangement, which is unsuitable for buggies and prams.

Finally, it must be emphasised that despite the local campaign being called the 'Fatal Footpath Campaign', there has not been a fatal casualty or any pedestrian accident of any severity recorded at this location since records began in 1981.

Council's cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Paul Mclennan will meet representatives of the local community to discuss this matter in the near future. 

Issued by Rob Sinclair, Communications and Marketing, 4 November October, 2008 T. 01620 82 7741 M. 07887675547 Email rsinclair@eastlothian.gov.uk