Safety drive sees temporary speed limit outside school

Temporary speed limits are to be introduced outside a school in Midlothian as part of efforts to improve pedestrian safety.

Midlothian Council is in the process of reducing the 40mph speed limit on the A701 outside Beeslack Community High School in Penicuik.

The measures would see a 20mph speed limit in operation from 8.20am and 8.50am on weekdays, from 3.45pm to 4.20pm Mondays to Thursdays and from 12.50pm to 1.25pm on Fridays.

Midlothian Council transport official Dave Kenny told a meeting of Penicuik and District Community there were successful temporary 20mph speed limits operating in Dalkeith and Gorebridge.

He added that someone struck by a car travelling at 40mph had a 90 per cent chance of being killed.

This fell to three per cent if the vehicle was travelling at 20mph.

A 20mph limit operates outside Penicuik High School, but earlier plans to reduce the speed limit outside Beeslack had been met with resistance.