A MOTHER who has spent 25 years campaigning for traffic lights to be installed at a dangerous junction in Neston after the death of her son has said "much, much more" needs to be done to address the issue.

Pauline Fielding made her comments during a commemoration event in memory of son Andrew, who died instantly during an incident at the junction of Raby Park Road and A540 Chester High Road in 1994. Mrs Fielding wants lights placed at the same location.

Road safety campaigners pledged their continued support for Mrs Fielding during the event at Neston High School, where Andrew was a pupil.

They vowed to work collaboratively to prevent more deaths and serious injuries on the A540 in Neston.

Cheshire West and Chester Council also confirmed that a planned junction improvement scheme was being designed and anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.

Mrs Fielding, who attended the event with husband David, said: "We need to work with the council now to turn plans into concrete actions that will save lives".

Mrs Fielding's son Andrew was driving along Chester High Road in 1994 when forced to swerve his Vauxhall Astra to avoid a Volvo which cut across his path at the junction of Raby Park Road.

As he swerved, the 18-year-old's vehicle hit a car travelling behind. He died instantly. The driver of the other car involved has never been traced.

The commemoration event at Neston High School was opened by the Mayor of Neston Cllr Dominic Roberts, who extended sympathy to the Fielding family on behalf of the town's residents.

He considered that all interested parties needed to "redouble their efforts, remember Andrew Fielding, and prevent any further tragedies on this stretch of road."

Mrs Fielding, a trustee and North-West local group coordinator for RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, has campaigned tirelessly since Andrew's death to reduce dangers on the road and in particular changes to the junction where he died.

She outlined the slow progress so far, especially the refusal of government to include the A540 in the Major Road Network and warned of the dangers of continued delay.

She saw some light at the end of the tunnel after a meeting with Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) Council in January 2019 when they committed the Council to getting a major scheme for the A540 prepared, pending funding.

Her campaign is backed by Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, who pledged to bring up the issue of road safety at the junction in Parliament at every opportunity.

The current and former headteachers of the school underlined the importance of improvements to the A540 for the safety of pupils.

His points were reinforced by parents, who told the meeting that they cannot allow their children to walk to school because of the absence of a safe crossing of the highway.

They also wanted the environmental aspect of the road to be tested through a new vehicle emission survey.

"Traffic is being given priority over people," claimed Ms Moore, one of the parents who spoke.

She added there were large volumes of heavy goods vehicles travelling along the road to the Aldi distribution centre in Neston and claimed that the A540 and its side roads had become a 'rat run for supercars and superbikes' each evening.

The parents questioned the surveys of the junction at Raby Park Road because they did not take account of the many people who avoided the junction altogether because of its manifest dangers.

The event was essentially commemorative, but participants were keen to share their knowledge and information and coordinate their actions through the formation of a group that combines the efforts of the Fielding family, campaigners for safer routes to school, the Quarry Road residents, and Neston Town Council.

Mrs Fielding said: "This group will convene shortly, energised by this event and the expressions of support from politicians; the local politicians having included the A540 improvements in their successful manifestos at the recent elections.

"All those involved are determined to bring the campaign to a successful conclusion however long it takes.

"David and I would like to thank our family, friends, colleagues and so many in the community who have supported us since the Andrew's death.

"We feel privileged to have received such wonderful support over so many years and are truly thankful to everyone who has helped us. 

"We would also like to thank Ceri and Phil Lloyd for coordination of the commemoration for Andrew and thank Neston High School for hosting it.

"The event was attended by politicians who support our campaign, family, friends and members of the community who want to see improvements to A540.

"There are plans to develop a committee with representatives of all the local campaign groups.

"It is hoped that this will focus efforts and enhance impact in the campaign to for significant and fundamental improvements to A540 and its junctions."

Cheshire West and Chester Council's deputy leader and portfolio holder for environment, highways and strategic Transport, Cllr Karen Shore said: "The council is committed to maintaining and improving highway safety for all roads users and has met with Mr and Mrs Fielding and agreed to explore potential options at the junction.

"A planned junction improvement scheme that will improve existing signage and road markings is currently being designed and anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.

"We are also looking into more options going forward.

"Once we have completed this work, we will be in a position to identify a preferred solution and the Council, working with its partners, will explore funding opportunities to make our shared goal possible."