A parent has launched a petition calling for safety improvements at John Leigh Park after their young child fell from the wall bordering Oldfield Road in a frightening near miss.
The child fell from the low wall near the pedestrian crossing but was able to move back to safety and avoided serious injury.
The incident has prompted the Altrincham resident to call on Trafford Council to review the boundary between the children's playground and Oldfield Road.
The petition asks the council to consider installing suitable railings along the edge of the park beside Oldfield Road, creating an additional barrier to prevent young children from accidentally reaching the pavement and road.
Following the incident, conversations with other families who use the park revealed similar concerns, with several residents reporting near misses of their own and highlighting the risks faced by young children in the area.
Parents and carers say the current layout allows children easy access to the low wall bordering the road. Balls can roll towards the roadside, children on balance bikes can unintentionally head towards the boundary, and some young children climb or jump from the wall without fully understanding the danger.
Residents are also raising wider concerns about Oldfield Road, including vehicle speeds, visibility around the bend near the park and drivers failing to stop at the pedestrian crossing. The campaign is asking that these road safety issues are considered as part of a full assessment.
The petition calls for Trafford Council to work with residents to identify practical improvements that protect children while respecting the character of the park, which sits within a conservation area. Campaigners believe carefully designed railings could complement the surroundings while providing an important additional safeguard for families using the playground.
Local councillor Michael Welton has responded positively to the concerns, highlighting existing efforts to address speed issues on Oldfield Road and welcoming the road's recent inclusion in the Community Speed Watch programme. Further discussions have also been suggested with local community groups involved with the park.
The petition can be found here.
