Lauriston v Stonnington Council: school crossing remains a sticking point
An Armadale private school wants to pay to move a school crossing to help improve safety at drop-off and pick-up times, but the process with the council is as slow-moving as the traffic. Find out what is causing the delay.
Inner East
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The potential relocation of a school crossing at a private Armadale school is deadlocked as parents’ cars waiting to pick up children.
Lauriston Girls’ School has hit a standstill in its negotiations with Stonnington Council regarding the Mercer Rd crossing, with the two parties debating it for close to a year.
Lauriston principal Susan Just said the school wanted to move the crossing as part of its larger project.
The project would involve creating a ‘kiss and drop’ area within the schoolgrounds, which could help alleviate the pressure of having hundreds of cars in the street.
However, council officers would prefer the crossing not move, as supported by residents surveyed in the street, or for entry to the school’s off-street area to be moved south of the crossing.
“We are working constructively with Stonnington Council to find a place for both items that meet the needs of council planning and traffic management, our neighbours and the families who have daughters at our school,” Ms Just said.
“We are confident it will be resolved soon.”
The area is predominantly used for Lauriston’s junior school, with children aged 5-11. About 1000 students attend the school, from three-year-old kindergarten to Year 12.
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A survey in September showed about 75 children used the crossing in the morning and afternoon peaks, while between 300-400 cars used Mercer Rd at the same times.
The matter will appear before Stonnington Council at its next meeting on March 16.