Members of the parent council at St Ninian’s RC in Blairdardie are worried about a “lack of safety” on Great Western Road, particularly at the junction between Lincoln Avenue and Cowdenhill Road.
The school faces directly onto Great Western Road, with pupils walking along or near it most days.
Julie Kelly, a parent, says she believes the junction, which is located near the school, is “confusing” for drivers and that there are incidents there “every other week”.
Concerned parents and residents outside St Ninian’s Primary School on Great Western Road. (Image: Gordon Terris)
She said: “It’s quite confusing for drivers, and you’ll see them going into the wrong lanes. There are incidents there every other week.
“It’s been really dangerous for a number of years, and nothing’s changing, unfortunately. Glasgow City Council (GCC) said before, ‘there’s no way a car would drive up Lincoln Avenue and go right across the four lanes’.
“In actual fact, if you drive up there, you can see the whole road, so you could fly across those lanes.
“There are a lot of school kids walking in this area, and it’s a worry that drivers are not going to stop in enough time.”
On April 11 this year, a woman was taken to hospital, and the roof of a taxi had to be cut off after a “very serious” crash on Lincoln Avenue at the junction of Great Western Road.
The incident on Great Western Road on April 11, 2026. (Image: Jen Arrighi)
In a separate incident on August 28, 2025, an 85-year-old man died after a car collided with a railing at the busy junction.
The incident at Knightswood Cross on August 28, 2025. (Image: Newsquest)
Meanwhile, in September 2020, a 53-year-old man died after being struck by a car while crossing Great Western Road near Cowdenhill Road.
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Amanda Lancaster, chair of the parent council, told the Glasgow Times that the school carried out a risk assessment of this route and reportedly flagged Great Western Road as a “higher risk”.
It is understood this assessment was undertaken as staff and youngsters attend mass at the nearby Roman Catholic Church of St Ninian and had previously been walking along this route to get there.
Amanda claimed that this is no longer the case.
She commented: “The school attends the local church, and they used to walk along Great Western Road, but that has changed.
“They now go up Turret Road and through a couple of streets. There are concerns given that Turret Road meets Cowdenhill Road, and there was an accident there recently. However, that route is safer.
“The school carried out a risk assessment, but we’ve not seen it. We were just told that going along Great Western Road was a ‘higher risk’.
“More needs to be done not just for the school but for the community as a whole. It is a massive risk that we are taking walking our kids here.”
Concerned parents and residents outside St Ninian’s Primary School on Great Western Road. (Image: Gordon Terris)
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Parents are calling on Glasgow City Council to deploy traffic calming measures in the area to tackle issues such as speeding and pavement parking, particularly at the corners of roads.
This would include taking a look at the junction of Blairdardie Road with Great Western Road.
Julie stated that there had previously been a lollipop person stationed at this junction, but due to reported “fears for her safety”, she was removed.
A GCC spokesperson has since confirmed that the council has recruited a new school crossing patroller who will start in the area “next week”.
Julie said: “Two years ago, we had the lollipop lady taken away from the corner down there. The roads department said that they had removed her due to the fact that it wasn’t safe.
“Yet kids are still expected to cross there. It’s kind of a blind spot. Cars are coming around that corner at speed.
“That road is also a bus route around the school, and it’s already a nightmare with all the parking on the street.
“We’re trying to get the roads department to put more safety measures in place. We just want to keep everyone safe, but that is not our job.”
A GCC spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns raised by parents and carers within the St Ninian’s learning community and are currently considering if further road safety measures could be implemented following discussions with local partners.
“A number of safeguards are already in place, including ‘keep clear’ zig-zag markings, ‘school’ warning signs on surrounding approaches, five designated crossing points, and pedestrian barriers at access points to help protect children and young people.
“We have also recently recruited a new school crossing patroller for the area, who is due to start next week.
“The surrounding roads are due to be included in the forthcoming citywide 20mph rollout, which will reduce speed limits and help make streets safer while encouraging walking, wheeling, and cycling.
“Pupils also continue to receive road safety education, ensuring they are reminded of how to travel safely within their local community.”
