“Dangerous” park - still no road traffic changes

Monday 18 July 2016

Road safety campaigner Nicola McAteer is furious over the lack of action following the death of a three-year-old boy at Millennium Town Park, and her e-mails to the Chief Minister and Town Constable calling for urgent changes remain unanswered.

Mrs McAteer started a petition a fortnight ago calling for immediate road safety changes to the area around the park, following Clinton Pringle’s death last month.

The toddler was hit by a van and a 38-year-old woman was arrested in connection with road traffic offences, but no charges have been made. 

Mrs McAteer, a close friend of the Pringle family, began a petition calling to safety measures to be immediately introduced around the park and it now has 3,222 signatures. 

Despite the petition, which has been endorsed by the Pringle family, Mrs McAteer says her concerns are not being addressed quickly enough. 

She said: “I still await a reply to my previous emails. As a highly concerned member of the public and our community, I am still waiting.  

“I am aware that the St Helier parish have had a few officials down at the site of Millennium Town park at the accident site, monitoring traffic. From speaking with two of the officials, it was apparent they have also come across a number of motorists who use this road illegally as a short cut. 

“What happens to the findings from this report? What happens to the individuals who have been caught illegally using this road? Are they fined, are they asked the reasons why they use this road and are these findings reported back to the parish? 

“Whilst I was there for a few minutes chatting to the officials there were a number of motorists who realised the officials were there and changed their minds about using the road illegally, turning around.  

“This evidence continues to prove that these additional signs placed there last week are simply not working. 

“Surely there is a cheaper and more efficient and effective strategy to remedy this highly dangerous area. Perhaps to have a barrier with pin numbers, or authorised cards to access the area correctly, and legally, rather than employing such officials to deter motorists by their presence.  

“We must all take responsibility to stop a further tragedy from happening in this dangerous area again.  

“People are clearly not adhering to these additional signs from last week.  As a highly concerned community, we are still waiting to hear from our Senator. We need to be listened to. I again ask Chief Minister Ian Gorst to meet with us, the community, and listen to our concerns and recommendations. There are also a number of suggestions from members of the public in our petition. Please review, and take on board our communities feelings and suggestions.

“Do we really need to wait on a further tragedy, before our concerns are listened to?”

Clinton Pringle was on holiday in Jersey with his mother Stacey when he was hit by the van. The family, who hail from near Glasgow, spent three days at his bedside before the toddler died in Southampton. 

Clinton's funeral will take place on July 22 near Glasgow.