Over 2,500 people have signed petitions calling for urgent road safety measures to be introduced in Southport at a spot where two beloved friends were killed in a devastating tragedy.
Marie Cunningham, 79 and Grace Foulds, 85, lost their lives after being struck by a vehicle on Lulworth Road in Birkdale at approx 4.35 on on Tuesday, 30th November. A police investigation is ongoing.
Family members of the two ladies have set up petitions calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed on the busy main road.
They said: “We don’t want anyone else to have to go through tragedies like our families have suffered.”
Dozens of the petitions can be found in various wards in Southport Hospital and in businesses across Southport.
People have also been adding their names to an online petition, which you can sign here.
There are just a few days left for people to join the campaign, with local residents invited to sign as soon as possible to help make the safety measures become a reality.
The petitions will be submitted to Sefton Council with a plea for the changes to be made.
The campaigners said: “On the 30th November 2021 Marie Cunningham was sadly killed along with her friend Grace simply trying to cross Lulworth road . Their deaths have shocked residents in the area who have said that a crossing has been needed for some time and so with this in mind, as a family, we have engaged with Sefton Council and started a process to review the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossing to allow safe passage.
“We are asking you to sign this petition so we can forward this as evidence to Sefton Council to show the need for change and protect pedestrians in the area.”
Philip Burkert, 62, is Marie Cunningham’s younger brother.
He is among family members eager for changes to be made in his big sister’s memory.
He said: “We are looking to collect the petitions at the end of this week and during next week. People can still sign the online petition until 5th March.
“Please add your voice and sign while you can.
“Thank you to everyone who has signed already. The response has been really good.
“There have been lots of people and businesses messaging us asking if we can drop off more petitions to them.
“The stronger the support, the better it will be for the campaign.
“I knew people would get behind us, but I have been amazed by the response. It has been brilliant. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to take part.
“We just want people to be able to cross the road safely, and to prevent anything like this from ever happening here again.”
Marie Cunningham’s daughter, Lynn Cunningham, said: “Over 2,500 people have signed the petitions so far. Now we really want one final push.
“We don’t want their deaths to have been in vain. We want at least some good to be able to come out of this terrible sad tragedy.
“Local residents in this area really do feel that more crossings are needed here.
“From the Duke Street roundabout all the way to Greenbank High School, there is a two and a half kilometre stretch of road without a single crossing. We need one urgently.
“People have been really shocked by what happened. They don’t feel safe crossing the road.
“Here in Dukes Ward, it has the highest proportion of over 85 year olds in the UK. There is a large elderly population living here, as well as lots of families where is the duty of care for every pedestrian?
“Please help us by signing our petitions.”
You can sign the petition online here.
You can also sign petitions at dozens of local Southport venues including:
Southport Hospital
Rowlands Chemist
The Victoria Gym
Element 5 Hair Salon
Birkdale Community Hub
Baileys Estate Agents
Birkdale Post Office
Pauls The Barbers
Birkdale Conservative Club
Birkdale Labour Club
Anchor Housing, Saxon Road
Bill Rimmer’s
Mr Casey
Kinder World
Slimming World with Dee Wright, High Park
Slimming World Birkdale with Pam Crossen
The Pines, Hillside
Langberrys Sandwich Shop
Ainsdale Train Station
MeCycle
Pebbles
Baileys Cards
Dukes
Golden Monkey
Grayson’s
Dolce Vita
Tesco Ainsdale
Harbour
Ainsdale Post Office
Co-Op Ainsdale
Waterfields Ainsdale
Morrell’s Ainsdale
Langs Six 30
Millhouse Lodge
Bargain Booze Ainsdale
Ainsdale Cricket Club
St John’s Church Ainsdale
Hillside Golf Club
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Toby Carvery Ainsdale
Polansky’s Barbers Birkdale
Enquiries into the collision are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call the Merseyside Police Matrix Roads Policing Unit on (0151) 777 5747, email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk, or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter quoting reference 21000831536.
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