Petition to demand immediate change at scene of tragedy

Tuesday 05 July 2016

A family friend of Clinton Pringle’s parents has started a petition to bring urgent traffic calming measures to the area around the Millennium Town Park.

Nicola McAteer has been so shocked by the death of the three-year-old boy that she has urged Jersey residents to give their backing to the petition, calling for traffic issues around the park to be “immediately” addressed.

Clinton Pringle died on Friday of injuries sustained in a road traffic collision last Monday - and scores of well-wishers have left tributes at the scene of the incident. 

Nicola, (pictured far right, below) whose sister works alongside Clinton’s mother, Stacey, near Glasgow, says it is important to act straight away in order to avoid another tragedy. 

Mrs McAteer, who has two toddlers, said: “A petition has got to be the way forward and I’ll do all I can to make sure changes are made - and very quickly. 

“The lay-out of the road is such that a grown adult doesn’t know where the pavement starts and the road finishes, let alone a three-year-old toddler like Clinton. 

“It is literally an accident waiting to happen and in the time I have been bringing my two children through the park I have noticed on many occasions how dangerous it is. I just hope the authorities take action immediately because we do no want another family to suffer what has happened to this lovely family, the Pringles. It is so desperately sad - and tragic. 

“Myself and some of the other parents who send their kids to school near here, or use the park, will start a petition and it will urge those in authority to do something about this now. Not next month, or next year, but now. 

“Anybody who uses the park will know that there are no obvious signs showing where the road is and surely, with kids playing around here all the time, that is not a good idea. It has to the addressed straight away because none of us want another incident like this one to happen again.”

An onlooker, whose office runs alongside the park, said: “I’ve seen cars bombing down the road and using it like a race track chicane. What has happened is terrible, terrible, but we have been talking about it in our office for a long time, all of us saying how dangerous the area is.”

You can find Mrs McAteer's petition here. 

An online campaign has already raised over £3,500 towards funeral costs for the Pringle family, who hail from the Glasgow suburb of Chryston - with a target of £5,000. 

Officers have taken statements from a number of witnesses to the incident, which happened about 4pm last Monday near the Millennium Town Park, but would like anyone who left the scene before speaking to the police to call the station on 612612.

Police are also requesting that anyone who has premises in the area with CCTV cameras to get in touch so footage can be viewed to see if it assists with the investigation.

A 38-year-old woman was arrested for traffic offences after the collision with the toddler and has since been released on bail.

The police are also offering guidance for anyone traumatised by the accident, saying: "A range of support is available for anyone who may have been distressed as a result of this incident. GPs will provide support on emotional health and wellbeing concerns, while other options include the Youth Enquiry Service, school-based counsellors, the Samaritans and – in cases of appropriate seriousness – the Emergency Department at Jersey General Hospital.”