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Must we wait for a child to be killed?

30/10/2003

OVER 500 worried parents have added their names to a campaign for a pedestrian crossing outside a school after a lollipop man was seriously injured in a road accident.

The petition was launched last week after Mauldeth Road Primary's popular lollipop man, 62-year-old Maltimor Scott, was in collision with a car outside the school.

Mr Scott, a grandfather and keen musician, suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg in the accident, which happened while he was attempting to help a mother and child cross Mauldeth Road.

He is being treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary and a police spokesperson said that Mr Scott was recovering after an operation on his leg.

Amanda Robins, whose five-year-old daughter Demi attends Mauldeth Road Primary, immediately organised a petition for a crossing at the school.

She has collected almost 500 names and has passed on the petition to her local councillor. Amanda, 46, who lives on Westbank Gardens in Burnage said: "It is terrible that usually an accident leads to safety improvements, but everyone who has signed the petition is determined to get results."

Another parent said: "Does someone have to get killed before action is taken. Something must be done now."

Andy Kilcoyne, headteacher at Mauldeth Road said the road was a cause for concern for the school and parents.

He said: "It is amazing that we have not had an accident out there before. We have been concerned by a number of near misses."

Councillor Alison Firth, who is backing the petition said: "We urgently want the site to be investigated for accident reduction measures."

In an email to Coun Firth, the council's Keith Williams said: "We will research the accident record at the junction, to see whether there is a history and if any action is necessary."

A meeting for parents and staff is to be held at Mauldeth Road Primary after half-term about the issue.