Talks to be held after school opposes Golspie bus park move
A MOVE to open up the bus park used by Golspie High School to other vehicles is being resisted by the school’s parent council.
East Sutherland and Edderton ward councillor Richard Gale said there was concern amongst parents that allowing other vehicles to indiscriminately use the park would present a safety risk to pupils.
The bus park is located next to the school playing fields and to the rear of Golspie Medical practice.
It has come under scrutiny as part of a redesign of the wider Fountain Road parking area and it was felt that opening it up for wider usage would alleviate parking pressure in the village which has seen an increase in visiting campervan and motorhome users.
But Cllr Gale, who is standing again in the May 5 local authority elections, told Golspie Community Council on Monday night that the parent council had objected on safety grounds.
He said the park was “very busy” at school drop-off and pick-up times and that he himself had been surprised during a visit at just how many buses there were in the park.
“It was really quite congested with no room for car parking for a half-hour period at each end of the school day,” he said. “I was quite surprised at how many buses were using it.”
Suggestions have been made that the park could be opened up in the school holidays only, or during school terms with restrictions banning other vehicles from using it at between 8am-9am and 3pm-4pm.
However, it was agreed that it would be difficult to ensure that motorists adhered to the restrictions.
“Pupils’ safety has to be the priority,” said Cllr Gale. “It is a question of getting the right balance, but we will come to a solution that hopefully will address all these issues.
“The next stage is to get everyone round the table and find out what we can do.
“I will have a word with the school and will try to get something organised.”
