St Margaret's Primary School is situated on Salmon Inn Road in Polmont. This is a very busy road with high amount of traffic at peak times, with vehicles often travelling at speed and parking on the road during school pick up and drop off. Lots of children and families in the area walk to school and need to cross this busy road.

Polmont residents, parents and carers at St Margaret's Primary School are asking Falkirk Council to install a permanent pelican crossing at this location to ensure people can safely cross Salmon Inn Road and travel safely to and from school. Please sign the petition and add your support.

Background
In April 2023 Falkirk Council removed the school crossing patrol on Salmon Inn Road. The crossing patrol helped children and parents to cross the road and get to school safely. The crossing patrol was reinstated on 22 May, however Falkirk Council have said "we cannot guarantee to continue to provide cover and will be subject to review and removal at short notice depending on staff absence at other points, based on scoring criteria." As parents we believe this is an unacceptable risk to take with children's safety and wellbeing.

Why do we want a pelican crossing?

1. Road safety 
Recently there have been reports of people witnessing and experiencing near misses on this road whilst the crossing patrol has been absent. In particular there have been reports of cars overtaking others who have stopped to let children and parents cross. A pelican crossing will slow traffic in the area and enable people to cross safely, even when there is no crossing patrol present.

2. Sustainability 
Installing a pelican crossing could also be more cost effective and reliable than a crossing person in the long-term as it would always be available and no need to cover absences. It is also available at all times of day for all pedestrians, not just during the school run.

3. Enabling independent travel 
Studies have shown that children's visual judgment and motor skills keep on developing until they're 14. RoPSA say that at age eight or nine, parents should consider allowing children to walk independently - considering their development and weighing up the
benefits of them being active with the traffic danger. Also to prepare children for the transition to high school it is important they learn how to become an independent traveller (all the more important if Falkirk Council are no longer going to provide a school bus service!). Without a crossing patrol or pelican crossing the option for independent travel to school is effectively unavailable to children travelling to St Margaret's given the dangers and risk of this particular route.

4. Encourage active travel 
Without a crossing or guaranteed patrol person it will reduce active travel options. Many parents (particularly those with onward journeys to work) will choose instead to drive their children to school. This will further add to traffic congestion and pollution in the area.

5. Preventing an accident 
Polmont residents & parent/carers urge the council to take action and install a permanent crossing before there is an accident on this road. We do not want any family to have to bear the news that their child has been hit by a car on their way to or from school.

Thank you for your support!