Anger over school speed limit signs

THE INSTALLATION of 20mph signs near all schools should be speeded up, councillors agreed at a meeting of the infrastructure committee on Tuesday.

Head of roads Ian Halcrow said the installation was a priority and the council was a third of the way through the work now. He said the job was moving along as the budget allowed and it would be completed within three years.

But concerning the Whiteness Primary School, councillor Florence Grains said that the Stromfirth junction needed a sign because if you come out of that junction you had no idea you were in the middle of the scheme. “It’s a half-done job and it needs to be completed,” she said. Mr Halcrow said he would put it on the list to be done as soon as possible.

Councillor Iris Hawkins said she had concerns about the Scalloway school where there is a lot of heavy traffic, and called for a “lollipop lady if nothing else”.

Councillor Alastair Cooper said that at Voe all the North Isles trucks pass the school and something should have been done long ago. “We’re not getting it right.”

And councillor Allison Duncan said that his granddaughter had nearly had an accident at the Boddam school. He said he was concerned at having to wait three years for the signs and hoped the council would find the money quickly.

Mr Halcrow agreed it was important and chairman of the meeting Allan Wishart asked him to get a report on “where we are” for the next meeting.