Council / Meeting to discuss Cunningsburgh road safety and school transport concerns
A PUBLIC meeting is being held next week to discuss road safety and school transport issues in Cunningsburgh.
It is being hosted in part to address long-held concerns over the speed limit and road safety in the village.
The Cunningsburgh Primary School parent council issued a reminder last year for folk to drive slowly and take care of passing pedestrians, as many children walk or cycle to school.
The public meeting, at the Cunningsburgh Hall on Monday 12 May, will also discuss other issues such as school transport.
The meeting is taking place between 7pm and 9pm, with an option to join in remotely.
A discussion paper released by Shetland Islands Council ahead of the meeting said there has been “sustained and sincere concern raised by Cunningsburgh residents” on a number of traffic related issues, including the removal of summer school transport for children in Aithsetter and Fladdabister and congestion at the school, as well as road safety.
“The council acknowledges the strength of community feeling on these matters and recognises the need to build a more constructive and responsive dialogue,” the paper said.
It added the meeting offers a forum to “listen, share facts, outline responsibilities, and collaboratively identify pathways forward”.
The paper concluded: “Our collective goal is to move forward with greater understanding, trust, and shared commitment to the wellbeing of Cunningsburgh’s children and families.”
It said that many of the requested changes, including adjustments to school transport eligibility and road speed limits, require political decision-making at council level.
One suggestion for future activity is for the community to engage with elected members to explore these policy-level changes.
A refreshed walking route assessment will also be undertaken, while the discussion paper suggests consideration could be given to a community working group being formed to explore “shared goals”.
It added that the road through Cunningsburgh is legally classified as “walkable” for accompanied children, but “perceptions and context have evolved”.
Council officers also acknowledge the constraints of the school car park and need for short and long-term solutions, with use of nearby overflow parking areas and improved signage or flow measures worthy of exploration.
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