Call for safety checks after sign falls on to baby in Newport

Newport Councillor Peter Scott has called for better safety checks on signs in the town, after the incident,

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Telford & Wrekin Council has confirmed it will be looking into the incident, but says it has not decided whether to review all signs in the town.

Mr Scott, ward member for the north and west of Newport, said: "Having this particular one fall on a child I have asked for Telford & Wrekin Council to look at the safety of all other swinging signs.

"The sign was only 18 months old, signs that are 20 years old are on the same street and are fine.

"There are a lot in the town and I am hoping that all signage be tested for safety and for an additional chain or plastic tie to prevent them from falling."

The news comes after the one metre square sign fell from Duignan Phelps Optometrists as a baby was being pushed along St Mary's Street, Newport around 1.40pm on Tuesday.

Remarkably the 10-month-old escaped with minor injuries when the sign landed on its pram.

An ambulance initially responded and was backed up by a Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with the MERIT Trauma Doctor on board. The air ambulance landed at Newport Cricket Club on Audley Avenue and took the child to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

Mr Scott added: "What I do not want to see is an outcry against that kind of sign because in normal circumstances they are safe.

"This is a very unfortunate incident but the chance of that child being under that sign at that time was very slim.

"The type of town we are, people like to see those type of signs and one planning application is going through the application process for another now. It's the sort of sign people expect to see in a market town.

"There's probably more danger in A boards from people tripping over them.

"I just hope that child makes a full recovery and this doesn't happen again."

"An outside contractor put the sign up, the owner is absolutely shocked by it, she doesn't know what to say.

"The shop is looking into it too. They want to know why as much as everybody else."

Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for protection, Councillor Hilda Rhodes, said: "We realise this must have been traumatic for the baby and his family and our thoughts are with them as they recover. We are currently investigatingwhat happened in Newport yesterday afternoon."

"Until we know more we can't comment on the reason that the sign fell and whether or not other shop signs need to be checked."