Condorrat safety campaigners are close to victory

PEOPLE power appears to have triumphed in a campaign for an extra safety barrier on both sides of a roadwhere a Cumbernauld schoolboy was badly injured last year.

Road bosses have been in talks with a number of local groups including Condorrat and Westfield community councils plus Councillor Bob Chadha with a view to implementing this additional safety measure in North Road.

The route is popular with youngsters making their way into the village during their lunchbreak but locals have long expressed safety fears about this busy route.

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Back in November, the young victim suffered a broken shoulder, elbow leg in the incident which police investigation put down to the dazzle factor of low winter sun.

Many locals felt that barriers should be installed on both sides of the road; this was initially dismissed by road bosses, who thought that youngsters would simply put themselves at greater risk by climbing over them.

However, a u-turn could be on the cards after continued consultation with local people. Jubilant campaigners are hailing the news as a true team effort.

Councillor Chadha was not available for comment at time of going to press. However, Billy Lees of Westfield Community Council said: “We are over the moon because we really felt that the council listened to what we had to say. This was not a big campaign as these things go but we are so glad that the decision has been taken.

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“There is no doubt that this is a dangerous road. It’s only careful driving that has stopped lives being lost here and when these children pour out of the school they really are at risk.’’

John King, of Condorrat Community Council, added: “We fought this on a joint basis and got full backing. Everyone was on board when we met with the council. We were about to have another meeting about this and we then discovered that we were getting the barrier.

“This could have been a fatality here and this is the main purpose of having the barrier,” he said.

Meanwhile Jamie Hepburn MSP added: “Any measures that will increase safety on North Road for pedestrians are to be welcomed. This is a busy road, and with a school on it, it can only be sensible to take such steps.’’

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We have held discussions with representatives of the local community and we are considering the proposals raised at the meeting.’

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