Road safety an issue at town centre park - five years before tragedy struck

Wednesday 06 July 2016

It has emerged that the issue of road safety around the Millennium Town Park was a controversial subject five years ago, just months before it was opened.

Last week three-year-old toddler Clinton Pringle died after being hit by a van - a tragedy which has led to calls for the park to become a pedestrian-only area.

But back in 2011, a neighbourhood group warned of the dangers of allowing free-flowing traffic in the area around the Millennium Town Park. 

The Town Park Working Group “expressed concern” over traffic being able to use the roads around the park, but their fears were overruled by St Helier's Roads Committee. 

Minutes obtained by the Bailiwick Express show that although the Town Park Working Group’s opinions were considered, the decision was taken to allow traffic in the area, as some residents and business wanted it. 

In February 2011, St Helier’s Roads Committee, chaired by Constable Simon Crowcroft, discussed the issue and the minutes of the meeting including the following: “The Town Park Working Group expressed concern about the committee’s decision to allow traffic around the park and the impact this would have on users.” 

In the end though the committee came down in favour of allowing the roads to be used for vehicles. 

The minutes for the previous month recorded the fact that some residents and businesses were in favour of allowing vehicles in the area, after revisions were made to the road lay-out. 

Those minutes, in January 2011, said: “Revised traffic arrangements for the roads around the park had been drawn up which would address some of the concerns of residents and businesses, but would be a compromise on the area being traffic free. 

“The revisions incorporate a much simpler traffic arrangement, generally retaining most traffic flows at present. The committee agreed to the proposals.”

That decision - to allow traffic in the area - has been a controversial one. The Friends of Millennium Town Park Group say they have repeatedly expressed concerns over Tunnell Street and Robin Place being used by traffic, as they are so close to a children’s play park.

Chairman Bernie Manning said: “They are rat-runs. We have believed for some time that allowing those roads open to traffic was a bad decision and that accidents could happen. That has now happened and a child has died.”  

A friend of the Pringle’s, Mrs Nicola McAteer, has started a petition calling for an urgent review of traffic safety near the park following the tragedy and an online charity has been set up to raise £5,000 towards funeral costs for the little boy, who died last Thursday, three days after he was hit by a van. You can view Nicola's petition here.

A 38-year-old woman was arrested for road traffic offences by Jersey Police and has not been charged. 

Two States members have expressed their concern over traffic use in the area around the park. 

Deputy Sam Mezec said: “Asking questions after something so tragic as this is absolutely the right thing to do. 

“I walk through the area every day for work and it does not feel like a nice road and pavement to walk on because are no obvious differences to where path starts and road ends. 

“Where this tragedy happened is on the corner of a very sharp bend and very close attention should be addressed to the matter of road safety. Anything that needs to happen to make the area safer will receive my full and absolute backing.”

Deputy Geoff Southern said: “This matter will be investigated and if it is shown that something needs to be done, I will make sure it is done.”

Constable Simon Crowcroft said he would not comment until any criminal investigation had been completed.