MP warns youngsters playing near rail crossing
Do you know where your kids are? Do you know if they’re playing safely?”
That’s the appeal made to parents by Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham after he was passed shocking footage of children playing on the Shearwater Lane railway crossing at Crooksbarn, by a concerned resident.
The footage shows two children playing right at the edge of the crossing as a train goes past. In the video one child is seen laying at the edge of the crossing with his head inches away from a passing train. Other footage held by the resident shows a train having to sound it horn as a warning, and even stopping to avoid any potential accidents.
Now Alex, who has previously called on Network Rail to improve safety measures at the Shearwater Lane crossing, is appealing to parents to make sure their children are aware of the dangers of playing around a live crossing.
He is also re-issuing his previous call to Network Rail and the British Transport Police to improve safety at the crossing.
Alex is now writing to head teachers voicing his concerns and asking them to promote railway safety in their schools.
Alex said:
“This shocking footage shows young children dicing with death on a live railway crossing.
“I’ll be speaking to Network Rail, the British Transport Police and Stockton Borough Council about this matter and seeking answers on what can be done to improve safety at the crossing, or whether alternative crossings can be provided.
“But I’m also appealing to parents and families to impress upon their children the dangers of playing around railway crossings, and to make sure they keep away from them unless supervised. The youngsters were lucky this time but the footage could have ended in much more tragic circumstances.”