Could these be removed to save cash?

by Jess Banham

Penny-pinching council bosses could put children’s lives at risk if roadside safety barriers are removed to save cash, campaigners warned today.

Shepway Council’s Joint Transportation Board is considering whether to remove barriers from in front of schools and train stations as part of a national review of guardrails.

But Shepway Campaign Against All Cuts believe removing any railings could cost lives.

Grandmother-of-three Robbie Segal, from Folkestone, said: "The safety barriers are essential for our safety and need to be properly maintained and replaced when damaged.

"Do we have to wait for a child to be killed or injured before we sit up and take action?"

"we have to ask the question why any of them were put there in the first place...” – mr segal

Her husband Eric is campaign chairman and thinks the council plans to sell off the railings for use as scrap metal.

He said: "You can’t put financial concerns and political concerns above safety concerns. Safety comes first especially with children."

The group has unveiled the first of their campaign posters which can be seen hanging from threatened railings across Shepway, with the tagline "I Protect You, Please Protect Me".

Mr Segal, of Hawkins Road, Cheriton, added: "They make children particularly aware of where and where not to cross.

"Road safety isn’t pushed as much as it was so safety barriers are very, very important."

Shepway Joint Transportation Board are still putting together their review of the railings and are sending out councillors and district officers to areas of particular concern, such as outside Folkestone Central train station.

They say no road barriers will be removed until they are satisfied there will not be an adverse impact on people’s safety.

But Mr Segal, 61, added: "We have to ask the question why any of them were put there in the first place and obviously it was because of safety concerns and if the council try and remove any of the safety barriers, the community will stand up against that."