A petition calling for safe drop-off and pick-up points to be created at Blairgowrie Community Campus was handed to Perth and Kinross Council this week.
Organised by residents of Smithfield Crescent and Smithfield Avenue, it boasts nearly 60 signatures and comments gathered over just one week last month.
It was delivered ahead of a meeting between councillors and PKC officers to discuss solutions to parking issues at the campus.
Resident Brian Smith said: “We empathise with parents in a hurry to drop off their children and get to work and we appreciate that the busy roads around the campus mean parents don’t allow their children to walk to school.
“However, these issues are just compounded by the increased traffic on the roads. It is a difficult situation.We believe the solution is simply to provide a safe zone for parents to drop off children, using land behind the cemetery.”
Mr Smith stressed that while inconsiderate parking was inconvenient to residents, safety was paramount.
In a letter to the council, he said: “Signatories to the petition have a genuine fear that unless something is done some type of tragedy, caused by traffic congestion, will happen.
“It is also felt that the council has both a legal and moral duty to make roads safe and ensure emergency vehicles can move freely at all times.”
He added: “Someone from PKC came to look at the problem in Smithfield Avenue but couldn’t get up Smithfield Crescent. Bin lorries have had to reschedule their times to avoid the congestion. Carers and community nurses can’t get parked when visiting patients.
“I don’t think any of the other proposed solutions would actually work; the only viable solution is to provide a safe alternative drop-off zone, which is what the petition is calling for.
“The land is there and it would provide parking for the cemetery, the schools and public events at the campus.”
Councillor Bob Ellis said: “The parking problem has been a long-running saga and I am fully aware of the problems in the Smithfield Crescent area. The council is holding a meeting on February 6 and we will be looking at every option to seek an end result.
“I have witnessed first-hand the problems residents have been faced with, especially in Smithfield Avenue, where the parents are dropping off their children and picking them up.
“I am sure we will get a resolution and will do my best to make it happen.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers added: “I look forward to our meeting and hope we can look at all possible options to relieving the traffic problems. The priority is the safety of children and pedestrians, coupled with ensuring residents are not being inconvenienced unnecessarily.
“I would again ask those who drive round the campus to be aware of the 20mph zone and to think about where they drop off and pick up. I am grateful to our community police officer for his support and hope Tayside Police will continue to do what they can to help council officers address the problems.”
