Millennium Town Park - Campaigner demands action

Sunday 28 August 2016

A road safety campaigner is furious that cars have been parked illegally at the scene of a recent tragedy.

Nicola McAteer says she wants immediate action to make the area around the Millennium Town Park safer, following the death of three-year-old Clinton Pringle in June.

Mrs McAteer, who has led a campaign to improve road safety at the site of the accident, was sent photos of cars parked illegally near the park by neighbours and says action must be taken now to avoid another tragedy. 

The mother-of-two said: “The area around Millennium Town Park seems to be getting worse, rather than better.

“It does not make sense. Do road users still not know this is a ‘pavement’ they are parking on? This cannot go on. Are pedestrians meant to walk on the road? To think, the toddler park is just the other side of the road.

“The parks are absolutely mobbed with families enjoying the summer holidays and sunshine, but many families do not think their children are safe, so they are always on edge, rather than enjoying playing with their children, enjoying precious moments.”

Mrs McAteer has started a fresh campaign on Facebook, saying: “Please, please please share. We need this area monitored immediately with parking wardens, and honorary police to ensure traffic users and pedestrians are safe.”

Clinton Pringle’s parents have backed Mrs McAteer’s campaign, saying they fear another tragedy will happen unless changes are made to the area around the park. In particular, they say there is little or no distinction between road and pavement, causing confusion to adults and children alike.

A 38-year-old woman was arrested by police in connection with road traffic offences, but no charges have been made.