HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-09, Page 9Petition reinforces need for road safe
Gerard Creces
signal -star staff
Safety on the roads is not just limited to what happens
inside the car and one Goderich resident has spearhead-
ed a petition to see things get safer around a popular
children's destination.
Corinne McNeil of South Street has been busy lately,
collecting signatures from families- along the stretch of
South and Raglan Streets around the Kinsmen play-
groud. Her goal - have a four-way stop put in to protect
kids using the playground.
"With all the four-way stops in town, there should be
one at the playground," she said. I just don't want to see
anybody get hit."
McNeil said she often sees cars "flying down Rag-
lan," and her safety concerns are shared by many in the
neighbourhood.
"There was a lot of mothers that agreed," she said.
"Everybody was in favour of it. Nobody minded signing
it that's for sure."
She said her concerns for .the playground
double for the influx of former Robertson
Memorial students walking east to the Victo-
ria campus of Goderich Public School.
The traffic on South and Raglan, she said,
has become a serious concern and a personal
one for McNeil.
"I have lived here for 38 years," she said.
"My kids have always gone down to the play-
ground and schools. I have grandchildren that
use that park all the time."
She said she notices it more firthe evening,
when cars speed down the street, creating a
difficult situation.
McNeil's petition made it before Goderich
Council November 30, and a recommenda-
tion was made to have Public Works study
the troublesome intersection to see what
needs to be done.
However, the concern for children's safety
is also shared by students and staff at Goder-
ich Public School. Principal Deb Gill said the
school has already implemented a number of
changes to their Gibbons Street dropoff to
enhance safety for students.
"What the concerns are now and what they
were are two different things," she said. "The
school board extended the old Victoria park-
ing lot, doubled the size and went south quite
a distance."
Barriers placed at the north end of the lot
•
area also
made it a drop-off zone only. At the close of each school
day, staff are on -hand to make sure kids get to their par-
ents' vehicles in a safe manner.
"We have 400 kids here at the K -to -six site. We can
have anywhere from 200-250 parents dropping their
kids off. That's a huge volume;" she said. "It's working
out better than we would have hoped."
Working in tandem with the town and the police,
Gill said the reassigned parking lot, staff presence and
wheelchair accessible drop zone have all done their part
in reducing the amount of traffic for students.
As winter weather approaches and more parents drop
their children off at school, Gill said GPS will continue
to keep watch for students, and measures taken now will
be re -addressed once the move to the Robertson campus
is complete for next year.
She said while parking was parents' number one con-
cern, the feedback has been very positive.
"They have told me they very
much appreciate our presence
out there," Gill said.
Congfittflations
/ The Goderich BIA would
like to congratulate Sherry
on winning the $1000.00
prize package from the
first every "Downtown
Goderich Ladies night".
Thank you to each and
every lady that made this
night such a huge success!
Merry Christmas
to everyone from
the Goderich BIA
•
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - Page 9
Photo by Gerard Creces
Ben, Joe and grandfather, Joe Craig, walk past vehicles lining the
dropoff zone outside Goderich Public School last week. Inset, the
cornier of Raglan and South sees many kids crossing to get to the
Kinsmen playground.
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THANK YOU HURON COUNTY!
The Huron County Health Unit wishes to sincerely thank the public for their
patience and response during this fall's HINT pandemic. Even during vaccine
shortages and -bad weather, we saw the best in the people of Huron County
We'd also like to thank the following groups who very graciously helped:
Kinsmen Club of Clinton - Your tent was very helpful on those rainy clink days!
Municipality of Central Huron - We all appreciated the chairs and traffic markers you provided.
County of Huron Facilities and IT staff for going above and beyond to help with clinic set up.
County of Huron EMS for supplies and County of Huron Highways for traffic markers
Thank you for offering space for our clinics free of charge:
• Clinton Royal Canadian Legion • Goderich Royal Canadian Legion
• Exeter Royal Canadian Legion • Wingham Royal Canadian Legion
• Seaforth and District Community Centre • Suncoast Mall
• Precious Blood Church • F.E. Madill
• Howick Central Public School • Brookside Public School • Grey Central Public School
IT'S NOT TOO LATE to get your H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine. Most doctors' offices will be
offering both seasonal and H1N1 flu shots throughout December and in the new year.
Please call the health unit for an appointment for a flu shot it
• you do not have a family doctor
• your child needs their second dose of either the H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine
www.huroncounty.ca/health