A campaign to install a new pedestrian crossing has suffered a major blow after a survey revealed there was not enough traffic to justify one.
Calls have been made for a crossing on Buckie High Street, near Millbank Primary School.
Local councillor Tim Eagle has been working with the school’s parent teacher association to press council officials on the need for a safe way for youngsters to get to classes.
However, a survey by the transportation team has found the street is not busy enough for a crossing to be installed there.
Last night, Mr Eagle admitted he was surprised at the results and asked to hear the views of local parents to determine if it should be challenged.
He said: “There is some developer obligation funding available in Buckie and the hope was this could be used to install the new crossing.
“Prior to any work like this it is common practice for a survey to be done to assess the need for the crossing. This was carried out on January 29 and to my surprise the results that the transportation team have come back with indicate that there is not a need for the crossing.
“Based on the figures, the transportation team have said it would be difficult to justify spending money on a crossing.
“This is a real blow as I know the parents who do cross the high street do find it difficult at times to get across. I have let the school PTA know about this and I urge any parent to come forward and let me know if they think this result should be looked at again.”
During the survey, four areas off the high street were looked at, split between Highfield Road and the entrance to Linzee Gordon Park.
Over a 12-hour period, from 7am-7pm, the highest number of people crossing at any point of the locations was eight. The total number of people crossing at all four sites was 103.
