Halliwell parents' fears for children as drivers flee from police

Residents in Halliwell want action after seeing an increase in the number of police pursuits which come on to the field near St Matthew's Walk and Pentland Terrace — with one little girl narrowly missed by a fleeing van before Christmas.

They have launched a petition calling on Bolton Council to stop vehicles using the field as a cut through.

Becky Keane lives next to the field and is leading the campaign, which is backed by MP Sir David Crausby, and said that there are two to three car chases a month that go through it.

In the summer, she said it is a popular spot for dirt bikes and joy riders.

Mrs Keane said children are often sent running for cover in nearby gardens when cars speed across the green space.

Residents are asking Bolton Council to keep vehicles off the field and keep children safe.

Mrs Keane, who has two daughters, Holly aged five, and Leah, aged 10, said: "It started off cars using it as a cut through because it is all dead ends around here. Over the past few years, there has been a plethora of police pursuits.

"Since December, there has been at least two or three police chases going on at all hours of the morning. In the summer we get off road bikes.

"We all have to look out for each others' kids. You have usually got 10 kids on the field. They all go running into the gardens when they see the cars it has got that bad."

On December 9, parents decided enough was enough when a little girl was almost hit by a van.

She was out with her mum walking the dog and had crouched down to play in the snow.

Mrs Keane heard a van blaring its horn and then saw the police car behind it.

She said: "I knew they were going to go that way because they always go that way.

"It was almost in slow motion. I saw this young woman pick her daughter up and she just threw her out of the way. She was crouched down playing in the snow.

"The little girl was completely oblivious. We just want something that will stop the cars."

As well as the concerns over keeping the children safe the car chases also wake residents up during the night.

Mrs Keane said: "It is not going to be long before a kid is catastrophically injured or worse. Someone is going to be killed.

"I understand there have been cutbacks. There are a lot of working people on this estate. We are tax payers. It is not the matter of if a child is killed but when."

Sir David, MP for Bolton North East, said the families have his support.

He said: "Local policing and highways resources are stretched to the limit and it is law-abiding working people who suffer because of it.

"I understand the difficulties both Bolton Council and the police face and the budgets are not going to improve in the immediate future.

"I do hope they can look at this issue again due to the dangerous situation on that estate and reconsider further proposals."

A petition launched online has more than 300 signatures but the families are looking for more support.

A council spokesman said: "We have not yet received this petition, but discussions are already taking place with Greater Manchester Police and Bolton at Home, which manages the local properties, about what measures could potentially be introduced to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

“Any measures would need to ensure that the public still has full access to the land. This includes people with impaired mobility, such as those who use mobility scooters.”

To sign the petition go to change.org/p/david-crausby-install-safety-features-to-protect-the-residents-and-children-of-halliwell