Road safety petition grows but campaigner fears she is being ignored

Thursday 07 July 2016

Community pleas for action to improve safety measures at Millennium Park following the tragic death of toddler Clinton Pringle “are not being listened to”, a friend of the family has told senior politicians.

Nicole McAteer’s online petition calling for better safety measures at the Millennium Park following the tragic road death of a toddler has gathered 2,661 signatures in support in just 24 hours. And she has urged the Chief Minister, and the Parish Constable to look at the comments from supporters of the petition and to take action “before another tragedy happens."

Ms McAteer has asked St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft and Chief Minister Ian Gorst to meet her at the spot three-year-old Clinton Pringle lost his life.

The toddler was hit by a van on June 27 when he was entering the park. He fought bravely for life in a Southampton hospital for three days before succumbing to his injuries.

Ms McAteer has twice written to Chief Minister and the St Helier Constable. Mr Crowcroft has replied – only to say, however, that he could not do anything while the Police investigation into the accident is underway.

But Ms McAteer said the issue of safety at the park is not directly linked to investigation and should be looked at urgently.

Children are in danger daily she stressed. 

“It is appalling that there has not yet been a response by St Helier parish in regards to this alarming situation,” Ms McAteer wrote.

“The whole area around this town park needs immediate investigation and change! This is a community that is scared, terrified and angry and we do not feel like we are being listened to.”

She called for immediate actions to alleviate the dangers – which were highlighted by a community group a full five years ago, before the park even opened.

“As a community we need our children to feel safe, they need to know their wellbeing and safety is their parents and carers top priority,” Ms McAteer, herself a mother-of-two, wrote. “Parents can not do this for their children with current pedestrian safety standards at this park.

In addition to the traffic dangers she said there are dangerous materials lying about the park.

And she asked them to look a some of the comments from the over 2,500 people who have signed her petition here.

“As a concerned parent and member of the community I would ask if you can please meet with me at the park, for half an hour or so,” she wrote. “This will help you understand and see for yourself the level of traffic that is still using this road illegally."

Ms McAteer said some drivers are still using the road as a short cut.

“It is absolutely disgusting how some individuals have no respect for the signs already there,” she wrote.

She added: “In addition to the amount of traffic using this area, we as a community need you to see how bad this area has been laid out.  This area is not suitable as a road and pedestrian area, at all. Urgent measures need to be taken now before another tragedy happens.”

In Scotland, people have rallied around the Pringle family following the death. A crowdfunding site has raised almost £6,000 in support of the family. And the family told the Scottish newspaper the Daily Record, Clinton's organs were donated to help save other lives.

“Knowing Clinton helped save four kids’ lives is a small comfort to us,” his father Michael told the newspaper.