A SCHOOLGIRL who learned to ride her bike without stabilisers in Penny Pie Park has set up a petition against the £4.3m gyratory system which would see it all but disappear.
Scarlett Blackburn, ten, who goes to Shawlands Primary, has been collecting signatures from her school friends, teachers and parents, and has even stayed behind after school to get others to sign it as well.
The gyratory system aims to relieve traffic on Dodworth Road and Pogmoor Road but would see a huge swathe of the park lost.
Scarlett said she had seen ribbons and signs at the park which said ‘Save Penny Pie Park’ and signed an online petition, before asking headteacher Duncan Thompson if she could start her own petition.
She said: “The park was the place I learned to ride my bike without stabilisers.
“I think the council is making a really big mistake because lots of people use Penny Pie Park.
“It’s one of the only parks where you can walk dogs and play with friends.
“If I didn’t do the petition then people who don’t have an internet connection wouldn’t be able to help save it.”
Scarlett’s petition says ‘Save the place, memories are made, save Penny Pie Park, sign here to protect it.’
She has taken it around the school during her break times, taken it to parents coming into school and even stayed after home time to catch some people who had been at the school for a meeting.
“Lots of teachers and friends have signed it. They are pleased I am trying to do something, they said I was being brave and that I was doing the right thing.
“I think I am doing the right thing. If Penny Pie Park goes, then people won’t be able to take their dogs for walks where it is safe. If children are learning to ride their bikes it will be dangerous on the pavement because of the cars.
“Also, the hospital doesn’t have a helipad so there will be nowhere for the air ambulance to land. And some of the trees have bats living in them and they are not allowed to be moved.”
Scarlett said she would keep collecting signatures until the council changed it’s mind about the gyratory system, and will be sending completed sheets to the council so officers could see how many people were against it.
Deputy headteacher Claire Athorn said: “We are so proud of Scarlett. The park is something which is close to a lot of families in this area and lots of children use it.
“We’re so proud of Scarlett for fighting for that, and we will support her.”
