Friday 11 Dec 2009
MINISTER UNVEILS RAIL SAFETY WALL AT DONCASTER RUGBY CLUB
- Region & Route:
Young rugby fans will be reminded to stay safe near the railway at every match after a new art wall was installed at Doncaster Knights ground.
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP today visited the club to unveil the wall which was created by young people attending a rail safety event at a Knights match earlier as part of Network Rail’s No Messin’ safety campaign.
Recent incidents of railway crime in the Doncaster area include trains being stoned, a train hitting a bike which had been left on the tracks and even a female seen dancing on the tracks.
Rosie Winterton said: "I am pleased to be supporting this important cause. Playing round on or near to railways may seem like harmless fun but is in fact a serious danger both to children and passengers alike.
“No Messin gives young people a chance to get involved in different activities and to try something new – like designing this Safety Wall – while also getting across this important message about rail safety.”
No Messin' is an award-winning campaign run each year by Network Rail to encourage young people to find safe, fun alternatives to messing about on the railway.
Vicki Smith, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “We have had brilliant support from Rosie Winterton and Doncaster Knights for our campaign. Partnerships like these give us an excellent opportunity to get the message across that the railway is not a playground and there are more fun things to do."
The rugby club and DIRECT (Doncaster Inclusive Rugby Education Community Trust) are keen supporters of the campaign.
Ali Wood, programme manager for DIRECT, said “We are proud to have an end product on display, which I believe encapsulates the positive partnership the Knights, DIRECT and Network Rail have formed over the past few years. I really feel that we have made a difference to the safety of young people in Doncaster and hope to continue the partnership work in the future”.
Notes to editors
Recent Rail crime in Doncaster
9/12/09 – 19.33, Doncaster to Sheffield stoned at Hexthorpe. Broken window.
08/12/09 – Youth wearing hooded top trespassing at Hexthorpe. Trains cautioned.
4/12/09 – Man trespassing on line near Thorne North.
2/12/09 – trains stopped in Mexborough near Swinton road bridge – female dancing on the tracks (7.30pm)
15/11/09 – Bridlington to Sheffield service ran over bike at Hexthorpe. 15 and 16 year old male seen in area. Train not damaged. Delay 41 mins
To learn more about No Messin' visit http://www.no-messin.com/videos/
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