Staff at nursery left ‘devastated’ after car hits wall for third time
Safety measures agreed day before
NURSERY workers in Southsea have been left ‘devastated’ after a car crashed into their boundary wall for a third time — just a day after new safety measures for the road were agreed.
Police were called to the Rainbow Corner Day Nursery, in Victoria Road North, on Friday after a Volkswagen travelling northbound left the road and hit the back wall, destroying a wooden gate.
The driver was reported to suffer minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. No one else was hurt.
Lucy Whitehead, the nursery owner, said: ' We're absolutely devastated.
'I can't quite believe it has happened. The thing we were most concerned about was something like this happening in the day and now that has happened.'
A spokesman for Hampshire police said: ‘ We can confirm that officers were called out to an incident at 1.44pm today (December 18) to reports of a single-vehicle collision on Victoria Road North.
‘A silver Volkswagen left the road and crashed into a wall outside of the Rainbow Corner Nursery School. One person suffered minor injuries.'
This is the third time a car has hit the boundary wall of the nursery in the space of two years, although the other two collisions happened in the middle of the night.
The afternoon before the most recent incident Portsmouth City Council's traffic boss, Councillor Lynne Stagg, had approved new safety measures, including bollards and signs, for the road.
‘It was great news that the safety measures were approved yesterday but after this I have asked that something temporary is put in straight away - like a temporary barrier,’ Lucy said.
‘And I have been told the council is looking at putting something in in the next 24 hours.’
Cllr Lynne Stagg added: ‘This proves the need for safety measures along there. This is really urgent now.’
A neighbour of the nursery, who has lived there seven years, said her wall has been hit twice by cars.
She said: ' I worry that one day someone could get hit because there's a bus stop right by the nursery.’
No arrests have been made.
This proves the need for safety measures along there. This is really urgent. Cllr Lynne Stagg