Shoppers are risking their lives at blackspot
Plea for crossing after six-year-old girl is knocked down
Safety must be improved near a busy shopping area before another pedestrian is seriously hurt, MP Gavin Newlands has demanded.
The SNP politician has called for crossings to be put in place at the Phoenix Retail Park to help pedestrians reach stores safely.
He slammed measures at “traffic blackspot” Saturn Avenue, which is used by thousands of cars every day.
Mr Newlands said: “After receiving a number of complaints from constituents over the lack of any safe means to cross this road, I visited it to see for myself the safety issues that they are rightly concerned about.
“Anyone who visits the Phoenix to shop or to work will be aware that this stretch of road is horrendously busy and can easily get clogged with traffic.
“The volume of traffic, combined with the lack of any safe means of crossing this road, is extremely concerning and I’m not surprised with the number of concerns that have been raised on this matter.”
Families have raised safety concerns after a girl, six, was knocked down as she tried to cross the stretch last week.
She was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, following the collision shortly before noon on Monday, July 3.
Mr Newlands, who represents Paisley and Renfrewshire North at Westminster, says he has contacted businesses to canvass views on improvements.
The stretch is bordered by busy Clippens Road and serves as the main route into Asda, car dealerships and stores including Pets At Home, TK Maxx, Matalan and Starbucks Coffee.
Dad Brian McGuire, 44, lives nearby and says children are regularly seen struggling to cross the road.
He said: “When I drive down the road, I can see youngsters waiting to cross and you can see the panic on their faces.
“There was an accident when a wee girl was hit and we can’t wait until another is seriously hurt for something to be done.
“They come from the cinema or head to the shops and it can take 10 minutes to get across.
“There’s already a traffic island in the middle, so it wouldn’t be too hard to put in a zebra crossing.”
Roads chiefs say they could implement a Traffic Regulation Order around the retail park to crack down on those causing tailbacks.
Residents say HGV drivers can be seen sleeping in their cabs around the site, reducing carriageway space.
The ruling could see roads closed or layouts changed, with restrictions on stopping.
Renfrewshire Council says it is considering options for the hub.
A spokesman said: “The safety of our road users and pedestrians is paramount and we recognise the concerns raised regarding Saturn Avenue.
“We will consider all the potential options to make the road safer and will work towards to the most appropriate solution.”