Local authority granted permission for project on vacant land to east of building in Arrochar Drive.
Plans to create a car parking and bus drop-off facility at Bishopton’s Dargavel Primary School will drive forward after the green light was given by Renfrewshire Council’s planning department.
The local authority has been granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the project on vacant land to the east of the building in Arrochar Drive.
A pedestrian walking route will also be incorporated into the area which aims to provide a space for safe drop off and pick up away from the often busy road.
Explaining the background, an operational statement said: “The site is proposed to operate between the hours of 8am to 8.30am for secondary school pick up for a small number of buses, up to five in total.
“This allows sufficient time for buses to depart to arrive at relevant secondary schools.
“From the hours of 8.30am, with a peak seen around 8.45am, the site would operate as a drop off for primary school with cars able to park in appropriate bays and spaces to avoid the current inappropriate and dangerous parking seen on Arrochar Drive.
“This means that there will be no overlap of cars dropping off for primary school with buses picking up for secondary school.
“At the end of the day, secondary school finishes later than primary school with the time taken to load buses and travel back to Dargavel meaning that all primary school traffic will have dispersed by the point any buses arrive back.
“The same situation would occur at the end of the day where a small number of buses, up to five, would utilise this space to drop off.
“Any cars arriving prior to 8.30am for the primary school will be directed to use the current drop off bay at the school.”
In its assessment of the plans, the council said: “It is considered that the proposed drop-off facility will assist in terms of improving the management of existing school transportation by providing a solution to address a known, substantiated and evidenced congestion issue which is experienced by both residents on Arrochar Drive and the community who use the school.
“In addition, the facility will also be utilised to help facilitate transportation between Dargavel and Parks Mains and Trinity High schools.”
Last month, elected members approved the award of a design and build agreement for the project – worth in excess of £473,000 – to contractor John McGeady at the finance, resources and customer services policy board.
At the time, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for the village, explained there were a number of reasons the work was necessary.
He said: “It should help in securing some organisation on Arrochar Drive. It’s important to get the cars off the road, rather than having them park directly on it, so hopefully people will use it when it’s in place.
“It will make life a lot easier for parents, school buses and residents accessing their houses because residents have complained about cars blocking their driveways, parking in front of their houses and so on.
“It should make the area safer and prevent people trying to cross the road from behind cars.”
In its official decision notice earlier this month, the council confirmed the proposal was in line with the provisions of the development plan.
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