Appendix 2 - Community engagement letter to residents
Perth and Kinross Council · 28 January 2026
Back to Economy and Infrastructure Committee — 28 January 2026 and its agenda
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Economy, Place & Learning Director Alison Williams Environment & Infrastructure Strategic Lead Fraser Crofts Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, PERTH, PH1 5GD Tel 01738 475000 Contact Traffic & Network Team Tel: 01738 476476 Email: schoolexclusionzones@pkc.gov.uk www.pkc.gov.uk Our ref V-SEZ-25 Your ref Date 15 September 2025 Dear Resident Viewlands School Exclusion Zone – Public Engagement In June, Perth & Kinross Council consulted on the possible amendment to the school exclusion zone (SEZ) which would see the SEZ cover a reduced number of streets closer to the schools. We received a number of replies, both for and against the plan, but the overall number of responses was low - especially as previous community engagements had resulted in a high level of feedback. As a result, the Council is seeking the undertake further consultation with residents and parents to ensure everyone who wishes does engage. Although the recommended changes are based on the public consultation exercise last year, they do represent a major alteration to the school exclusion zone and a reduction in the number of streets covered by the access restriction. The Council is carrying out a new public engagement exercise prior to commencing any work on the Traffic Regulation Order – the legal document that makes the restriction enforceable. The Council’s Road Safety Team has been in discussion with Police Scotland about an enforcement strategy should the new zone go ahead. The engagement will include a maildrop to residents in those streets within and adjacent to the original zone and an electronic communication through the schools to the parents. The results of the consultation will be reported back to the Economy & Infrastructure Committee in November. We are asking you to indicate whether you support the introduction of a new, smaller exclusion zone around the school, or if you wish to see some other change. If you provided us with comments in June, you do not have to reply again – unless you want to. Your original comments have been kept on file and will be included as part of this engagement. Delayed Office Opening for Employee Training This office will be closed from 8.45 am - 11.00 am on the first Thursday of each month. Appendix 2
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Here’s the URL to the Council’s online Community Hub: https://consult.pkc.gov.uk/communities/viewlands-exclusion-zone or you can use the Viewlands school exclusion zone QR code Additional information and a drawing showing the proposal accompany this letter. If you want a hard copy of the questions on the Community Hub, or want more information, you can contact the Road Safety Team by email to schoolexclusionzone@pkc.gov.uk, by telephone on 01738 476476 or in writing to their office in Pullar House (full address shown above). You may provide any supporting information or statement that you wish. The consultation is open until Friday 3rd October. It important that everyone takes this opportunity to engage with us and to have their say. Yours faithfully Daryl McKeown – Senior Engineer Traffic & Network, Perth & Kinross Council
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VIEWLANDS SCHOOL EXCLUSION ZONE Proposed consultation: Perth & Kinross Council is seeking to consult on the future of the school exclusion zone around Viewlands Primary School. A report was submitted to the Council’s Economy & Infrastructure Committee in May this year providing an update on the eectiveness of school exclusion zone programme in general and recommending changes at the Viewlands zone in Perth to encourage better compliance with the access restriction. This can be accessed on the Council’s website (E&I 25/131) or an electronic or paper copy can be provided. While most of our exclusion zones have been successful, the Viewlands SEZ has been problematic from the outset. Many parents voiced support for the Viewlands trial, and compliance by drivers was generally good in the initial months, but compliance rates have steadily decreased. Current traic figures are similar to pre-exclusion zone levels. There are two factors to consider at Viewlands school exclusion zone. Firstly, the zone has multiple accesses which enables drivers to easily travel into and through it. Secondly, there has been a lack of consistent enforcement. The current SEZ with multiple streets and accesses is untenable. Removing the access restriction completely would reintroduce the traic congestion around the school gates that prompted the introduction of the zone in the first instance. It is proposed that the zone is reduced in size to cover the streets in the immediate vicinity of the school, as indicated on the attached drawing. Residents and parents are being invited to comment on the amended zone; and can also comment on the possible retention or removal of the access restriction. Details are on the final page of this letter. Background: In 2022, in response to road safety concerns from the schools, parents and residents about traic levels at the school gates, a school exclusion zone was trialled on streets around Viewlands Primary School, Fairview School and Perth Academy. There were two objectives to installing the school exclusion zone: to reduce congestion and the associated road safety risk at the school gate to discourage dependence on vehicular transport by enabling people to walk to and from school The school exclusion zone is an access restriction, rather than a parking restriction. Vehicles are not permitted to drive in, out or around the school streets when the scheme is in operation. Signs are located at the entrance to the schemes which have flashing amber beacons to indicate when the scheme is in operation. Only those vehicles displaying a valid permit are exempt from the access restriction. Vehicles parked within the zone without a permit are entitled to remain but cannot move until the operating time finishes.
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As a school exclusion zone is an access restriction, entering the restricted area without a valid permit is a traic violation and a matter for Police Scotland. Similar to speed limits, local roads authorities can introduce such restrictions but enforcement remains the responsibility of the Police. The Temporary Traic Regulation Order introduced for the exclusion zone has now expired which means the access restriction cannot be enforced. Police Scotland retain a visible presence around the schools as an ongoing deterrent. Outcome of trial: It is recommended that the school exclusion zone should be reduced to cover Oakbank Crescent, the upper section of Oakbank Place and the upper section of Murray Place (as per attached map). This will ensure both vehicular and pedestrian accesses to the primary school are located within the school exclusion zone. Fairies Road would continue to be a drop-o/pick-up point at the west of the campus. Murray Terrace and Viewlands Place would become drop-o/pick-up points at the east of the campus. These two streets were included in the extended trial site, but this moved the area covered by zone beyond the immediate vicinity of the schools. If the entire school exclusion zone is removed completely, school traic would return to these streets anyway. It is recommended to remove the school exclusion zone from Viewlands Terrace and Braeside Gardens are they are remote from the school and have experienced little impact from displaced traic. Fraser Terrace needs to be retained within the school exclusion zone as there is no turning facility at the top of the street which would force drivers to exit through the school exclusion zone. Although these recommended changes are based on the public consultation exercise last year, they do represent a major alteration to the school exclusion zone and a reduction in the number of streets covered by the access restriction. As a result, the Traic & Network Team is carrying out a public engagement exercise prior to commencing any work on the Traic Regulation Order. This will include electronic communication through the schools to the parents and a maildrop to residents in those streets within and adjacent to the original zone.
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Further measures: A number of road safety and active travel projects are proposed around the schools in future years. These are not directly linked to the school exclusion zone but will help to upgrade pedestrian facilities in the area. A Puin crossing is being considered on Fairies Road, in the vicinity of the Oakbank Crescent junction, to replace the School Crossing Patroller that no longer operates at the site. The Murray Terrace/Viewlands Road junction is to be reconfigured. Reducing the junction radius will lower entrance speeds and enable the footways to be widened at the crossing points with Athollbank Drive. There is no land available within the road boundary to widen the narrow footway west (uphill) of Murray Terrace and provide a connection to Perth Academy. A priority system over this section is being considered. This would reduce the carriageway to single lane and provide the space for a widened footway and act as a speed reduction measure (especially if priority is given to uphill traic). A new remote footpath could then be constructed through the trees to the Academy’s main entrance, similar to the Viewlands Road path on the uphill side of the school gate. A footway could be constructed along the south side of Viewlands Road to connect to the Glasgow Road junction. In the interim, there is a footway on the north side of Viewlands Road although pupils are required to cross the road to access the schools.