The Best Guide for the Neston Area

MBE For Neston Road Safety Campaigner

Pauline Fielding, who for many years has campaigned for improvements to road safety, has been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours list.

Pauline Fielding MBE

Pauline's son, Andrew, died aged just 18, following a collision at the junction between the A540 Chester High Road and Raby Park Road in Neston in 1994. The other driver failed to stay at the scene and has never been traced.

Since then, she has knocked on many official doors in her efforts to see a reduction in deaths and injury on the road.  Most recently, she, along with fellow campaigners, formed the group A54Zero, which this year successfully convinced local authorities to launch a detailed feasibility study into the installation of traffic lights at the junction.

Pauline, a retired teacher and grandmother from Heswall, is also a trustee of the national road safety organisation RoadPeace. Together with Margaret Highton, whose granddaughter had been run over and killed, set up RoadPeace North West.  The group has since helped countless families in the area who have been bereaved as a result of road crashes.

As well as the monthly meetings Pauline runs, she also organises two remembrance services every year in Liverpool. The first is held at Liverpool Cathedral on August 31st, the anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, to remember her and all road crash victims. Another is held at St George's Hall in Liverpool in November, to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Both services offer a chance for families in the region to remember loved ones, and also highlight the terrible toll of death and injury to society.

Alongside the support groups and the remembrance services, through the North West group Pauline works in conjunction with the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, bringing together the police, emergency services and councils to reduce death and injury on the road.

Nick Simmons, RoadPeace CEO, said: "Everyone at RoadPeace is delighted that Pauline has received her thoroughly well deserved MBE. Alongside campaigning for safer roads, she has done so much for crash victims and their families. The RoadPeace North West group has provided a source of comfort for so many people in the region.

"RoadPeace would not be the organisation it is without her, and her work as a trustee and group coordinator is immensely valued. Congratulations Pauline."

Pauline said: "This honour came as a surprise but I am delighted and hope that it will raise awareness of the issues I have been campaigning about as well as the work of RoadPeace.

"The honour reflects the help and support I have had from my wonderful family, friends, RoadPeace, Merseyside Police and other professionals as well as the community. My sincere thanks to you all."

Speaking of the success of the A540 campaign, Pauline added: "I'm absolutely delighted. It has taken 26 years but at long last things are about to improve. Giving up was never an option.

"There was a time when I felt deflated but I have had wonderful support from family, friends and from the general public, who have encouraged me, and without them it would probably have never happened because they are the ones who have motivated me.

"I know this is the sort of thing Andrew would have wanted me to do."

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: "This is wonderful news. The persistence of Pauline's campaigning has only been matched by the strength of the arguments she put forward on road safety.

"I am so pleased her efforts have been recognised in this way."

Cllr Martin Barker, who has supported Pauline's campaign over the past few years, added: "This is probably the nicest news I have received all year, it is so well deserved.

"It is very fitting that Pauline has received news of her award in the year we finally had commitment from CWAC to install traffic lights on the Raby Park Road junction on the A540." 

 Congratulations Pauline, on your well deserved honour.

Pauline, centre, with fellow members of the A54Zero campaign group.

Report this article as inappropriate

Comments

Vigilant

At 09:06 on 31st December 2020, Vigilant commented:

I'm delighted that Pauline has been recognised for all her hard work in making our area a much safer place.
Thank you ??

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

Dennis L

At 17:12 on 23rd January 2021, Dennis L commented:

Well done Pauline but it is a disgrace that you are still awaiting the new traffic lights Raby Road.

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

You need to log in before you can do that! It's only a quick registration process to join the AMA network and completely free.