A PENSIONER is pushing for improved safety measures at a new Johnstone retail park.
Ronald Wylie, of Thomson Avenue, has raised concerns over the lack of a footpath on one side of the entrance to the Paton’s Mill development.
He said people exiting the site on foot are having to walk on the road if they are heading towards Johnstone town centre.
READ MORE: Johnstone’s new retail park is open for business
And shoppers who use a new pedestrian crossing to get to the site from the opposite side of High Street are then having to cross the busy entrance to the retail park in order to reach the safety of the existing footpath.
While Mr Wylie insists the development is a very welcome addition to the town, he believes the new road layout is “an accident waiting to happen.”
He told The Gazette: “There is no footpath on one side, so people are having to cross the road at the entrance, which has cars coming in and out all the time.
“My granddaughter has cerebral palsy and, while it may be okay for me to get about, it would be very difficult for her, as well as dangerous.
“I think there really needs to be some extra traffic lights or a zebra crossing further up, with a footpath put in on the left-hand side. Otherwise, there is potential for an accident.
The entrance (marked with the arrow) leads onto the busy High Street
“I would like to stress this is a fantastic development but I just think safety is an issue.”
The multi-million pound retail park, on the site of the former Paton’s mill, is home to discount retailers Aldi and Home Bargains, as well as a drive-thru outlet for coffee giants Starbucks.
READ MORE: Home Bargains becomes latest arrival at historic Renfrewshire site
The three stores, which have created around 75 jobs, have replaced the former shoelace factory, which became an eyesore after being repeatedly vandalised once production stopped in 2004.
A spokesperson for 4th Consulting, who are site developers at the retail park, said: “The issues have been raised and we are looking into them with Renfrewshire Council.”
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