Child 'almost hit by car' outside Denend PS in Cardenden

And councillors pointed the finger at parents for the failure of the pilot scheme at Denend Primary School in Cardenden, which was designed to improve road safety and encourage more kids to walk, cycle or scoot to class.

It was one of three school exclusion zones to be tried out in the Kingdom but officers admitted it "had not been successful" because police couldn't enforce the restrictions and staff pulled back due to "verbal abuse and disregard by drivers".

At the Cowdenbeath area committee, SNP councillor Rosemary Liewald said: "It's disappointing as it's something we worked really hard to have included at Denend, as well as the other two schools.

"I respect the amount of work officers and the school have done, however there was a child who was almost hit last week which was really distressing to hear.

"It pulled everyone up again to what is going on and how vigilant we need to be."

The traffic exclusion trial, outside Denend Primary School in Cardenden, banned vehicles on School Lane at drop-off and pick-up times. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Man stole neighbour's motorbike and threw brick through window over 'debt'

The report to the committee said there was also an "unverified" report that a parent was "hit by a vehicle" in the exclusion zone.

It operated from November 2022 to May 2024 with vehicles banned on School Lane at drop-off and pick-up times.

However, instead of encouraging more kids to walk, cycle or scoot to school it had the opposite effect, with an increase in parents opting to take the car or send them by bus.

Councillors said there were parking problems outside every school in the area and there was dismay that the trial hadn't worked.

Labour councillor Linda Erskine, who represents the Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty ward, said pollution levels had risen too and stated: "I find it incredibly disappointing that parents haven't participated fully in it.

"They had the opportunity to make the roads safer for their children."

Cllr Liewald, who represents the same ward, said she had gone to the school at pick-up time to see the situation for herself.

She said: "I went up to Denend and arrived at School Lane about 2.40pm.

"It's roughly 35 yards long and there were nine vehicles in School Lane, parked up at various points towards the school."

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When the bell went, the headteacher asked her to "please hang on as I want you to see what's taking place".

Cllr Liewald said the children who were taking the bus home walked down School Lane and had to cross Station Road, which had cars parked up and down the street and on both sides.

She said there had initially been compliance with the traffic ban but this had "dwindled" and she added: "The whole exercise itself is noisy, busy, chaotic and it takes probably 20-25 minutes for everyone to move in and move out, for the bus to get away and everything to basically calm down and get back to normality.

"I have to say the children were well behaved and are adhering to the rules and regulations that have been laid down by the school staff."

However, the same couldn't be said for parents as fellow ward SNP councillor, Lea McLelland, said: "It's disappointing that the people that weren't prepared to get involved and make it happen were the people who were violating every single thing we put in place."

She added: "The people who have broken the rules are winning, and those who were abiding by the rules are losing out on what was a really positive thing to do."