Angry Cumbernauld mum warned about road safety near school MONTHS before horror bus crash
Mother of two Cheryl Gallagher has been back by MSP Jamie Hepburn who says North Lanarkshire Council 'won't commit' to making important changes
A MOTHER of two has said a bus crash in Cumbernauld that saw 22 school pupils taken to hospital was an "accident waiting to happen".
The bus carrying 44 pupils near Our Lady's High this morning.
Firefighters, police and ambulance services rushed to the scene around 8.45am, finding the bus on its side off a roundabout on Dowanfield Road. before it fell down the embankment.
Now outraged parent Cheryl Gallagher claims she complained to North Lanarkshire council multiple times, as well as her MSP Jamie Hepburn - but measures taken were an "absolute joke".
Cheryl, whose six-year-old son walks to Ravenswood Primary each morning near crash site Dowanfield Road, said the road is "absolute mayhem" during peak traffic hours.
She says that traffic often speeds along the route, drivers are often reckless when pulling out and there are no traffic calming measures in the area.
Cheryl worries that drivers often speed up on the road due to the steepness of the hill.
Drivers are also said to park along the road where there are no double yellow lines.
The concerned mum received a number of emails from MSP Jamie Hepburn between September and October 2016, outlining that two safety assessments of the area had been conducted.
After the most recent assessment, the council concluded that "overall the assessment of the route indicates that it is acceptable", which Cheryl, 36, branded "ludicrous".
She said: "I was fuming with that response. Eventually I have to allow my son to walk to school on his own and I want that to be a safe route.
"That road is a danger to my child and it's an accident waiting to happen.
"My blood was boiling today when I heard about the bus crash - my wee boy was off school otherwise I'd have seen it myself.
"The council put up safety railings which are an absolute joke. The road needs to be assessed at peak time."
Cheryl, who works as a support practitioner with adults with disabilities, says complained about road safety and parking in the area in 2009, when her daughter, now 16, was in high school.
She says the double yellow lines that were originally painted were "useless" when Dowanfield Road was resurfaced and the lines were not replaced.
In recent years she has directed her complaints to MSP for Cumburnauld and Kilsyth Jamie Hepburn.
Mr Hepburn said: "It is self evident the issue wasn't resolved as the council won't commit to making important changes in the area.
"They said in September 2016 that a safety assessment had been carried out, that they would reassess the route - which they did by October 11 - and I forwarded that Cheryl wasn't happy with their response.
"The issue is council haven't taken any action."
Speaking of today's crash, he added: "A full investigation of incident needs to be carried out on this very serious issue.
"In terms of Ms Gallagher's specific issue, I will always continue to take up any concerns with constituent and that's what I will continue to do in her case.
"My thoughts are with the children and families affected - it must have been a frightening experience and clearly the outcome could have been a lot worse. Lessons need to be learned and the council should act accordingly."
Meanwhile North Lanarkshire council confirmed that school bus routes and stopping points will not be altered while investigations are carried out.
Pupils at Our Lady's High will return to school tomorrow as normal with support services in place as needed.
A spokesperson from North Lanarkshire council said: "An investigation will be carried out in due course."
Our Lady’s High head teacher Danny McNulty thanked the emergency services for their “speedy response” – saying none of the children involved had “serious injuries”.
He said: “An incident took place this morning where one of our school buses overturned.
“As a precaution a number of pupils were taken to hospital.
“Thankfully it would appear that are no serious injuries.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for their speedy response this morning, and the entire school community who pulled together at this difficult time to support one another.
“Our parents, staff and chaplain have been a valuable support to our young people at this time.
“We are planning to hold assemblies this afternoon to update our staff and pupils on the situation and to thank them for everything they have done today.”
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