‘High school roundabout’ approved by committee

A new roundabout is set to be built at North Lochside after the council’s planning committee gave the project the green light, helping to pave the way for the new Anderson High School to be built.

The roundabout, near Bruce Crescent, was once frowned upon by local residents over fears it would take away much needed parking.

That came after the planning service recommended not approving the replacement of 17 spaces – that will be lost when the new layout is built – on the grounds that doing so would result in unacceptable noise levels.

But now 14 spaces, in the form of a crescent, are planned to sit 10 to 20 metres from the boundaries of the residential area.

At a hearing in the town hall one of the original objectors, Bruce Crescent resident Davie Napier, said he had objected to earlier plans, but was content with the revised proposal.

The meeting heard the new roundabout would resemble the one at the bottom of Sound Brae, with no plans being made for any kind of fashionable centrepiece in the design. That prompted Peter Campbell to retort: “We’re not going to have a compass only usable for helicopter pilots, then.”

Depute political leader Billy Fox raised questions about correspondence with objectors. But he said much of the correspondence received from residents were letters of support, as long as adequate parking was provided.
political leader Gary Robinson moved approval. He was seconded by Mr Campbell.

Planning chairman Frank Robertson told members: “This is part of – and connected directly to – the development of the new Anderson High School at the Clickimin and the hall of residence at Lower Staney Hill, and that is a major development.

“We are bringing forward this application because this would be the first stage of this particular development.”

Speaking of the roundabout he said: “It obviously will change the dynamics of this particular area, both for traffic and pedestrians and in general activity in the area.”

The four-storey, 1,180 pupil school cleared a major hurdle in September when the planning com­mittee gave its

unanimous backing – over two decades since an initial report on the project was raised in the town hall.

But a list of 26 conditions must be met before development on the council’s flagship project by main contractor Galliford Try, which bought Miller Construction in July, can begin.