NORTH Ayrshire Council has vowed to ‘radically improve’ the travel network between Beith and the new Garnock campus after public concerns over safety.

Many parents opposed the siting of the new campus because youngsters walking to the site would encounter heavy traffic.

Now the council has unveiled their plan to “substantially improve” local footpaths and cycle routes to the new £40million school.

Amongst the proposals being taken forward – following feedback from parents, pupils and staff – are a number of improvement works along the B777 from Beith.

This includes widening the pedestrian path to support shared use by pedestrians and cyclists, introducing a protective guardrail, establishing several road crossing points and improving lighting.

The council is also in discussions with Police Scotland to secure agreement to reduce the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph on a section of the B777.

In addition, the creation of two bus stops on the B777 and the introduction of a mandatory part-time 20mph speed limit close to the front of the school will be pursued.

Proposals have also been put forward for the creation of a new lit cycle route along the former railway line.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “During the consultation process parents and residents rightly identified the provision of safe travel routes as being key to the success of the new school and leisure campus.  “We listened to their concerns and have developed proposals which go much further than the required planning regulations and will not only provide the best possible route for pupils but also radically improve the connections between and within the towns.

“This massive infrastructure investment is key to the council’s plans for development of the Garnock Valley.” Councillor for Kilbirnie and Beith and Kilbirnie resident John Bell said: “In my opinion, the upgrade to the walking route from Beith is the minimum that could be expected.

“However, they need to give serious attention to providing free buses for pupils as it is unreasonable to expect them to walk the long exposed route in the ice, snow wind and heavy rain as has occurred so far this year.

“The council has made no attempt to outline safe walking routes for Kilbirnie pupils and users. The routes into the campus need to be made safer, particularly the one next to the railway line at Daisybank with the narrow pavements next to an accident black spot.  “Parents and users views were ignored in choosing the site I hope there will be proper consultation before these limited options are put in place.” Fellow local councillor Jean Highgate was more scathing, claiming: “The use of the B777 as a ‘safe route’ for both pedestrians and cyclists is madness even with the provision of barriers. The footway is to be widened in places but the land required is owned by several landowners and this could prove to be problematic and costly when negotiating the necessary sale.

“Will there be provision for gritting the footway in conditions such as we have been experiencing - I doubt it.  “Because many parents will not permit their children to walk such a route, the roads will be congested with cars dropping pupils off.  “There is no firm agreement with public transport providers to make any necessary timetable changes or to increase provision..

“I am not sure whether cyclists will be expected to use the pavement or cycle track. The pavement is in places not wide enough especially leading to the pedestrian access along side the railway line.  “One of the conditions attached to the granting of planning permission was that the ‘safe routes’ had to be agreed with parents and carers. I am doubtful that those presently being proposed will meet with their approval.” Kilbirnie parent Allan Cairns whose four-year-old son will attend the new school, still has concerns.

He said: “There are still a lot of grey areas in the ‘safe routes’ that were asked for.  “The focus on the B777 from Beith and the lights on the cycle track seem to have taken away the fact that almost all pedestrians from Kilbirnie will still be walking down Kirkland Road to cross at Allans corner and down Main road, Glengarnock which means several large junctions to cross and a variety of narrow pavements.

“While still on a main commuter and industrial route, there are still many dangers in place and there will be major concerns of safe routes not being properly provided.  “My biggest fear is the councillors and planners have not listened from day one. They have been determined to push through these plans for this site whatever the cost and there have been some underhand tactics used along the way and it would seem that is still the case.  “The council have played every trick in the book including putting doubt and fear into people to try and gain support.

“The best and safest way to get these kids into this site is to provide buses, but the site was chosen because under current legislation they wouldn’t need to.

“Safety must come first and I fear they are still coming up short with the safe route plan so the only alternative would be provision of transport and doing that makes a mockery of their reason to choose this site.