Jennifer Pittorino
An “urgent” appeal for community safety measures in the Joseph Road precinct in Footscray has been issued by residents following the recent death of a woman.
On November 25, Frances Jeyann Ramirez was hit by two cars as she crossed the intersection of Hopkins Street and Hallenstein Street.
A GoFundMe has been created to help return Ms Ramirez’s body to the Philippines. So far more than $44,000 has been raised.
Local resident Samantha Meredith has created a petition calling for action to improve the safety of the precinct.
“It is extraordinarily sad to see there has been a fatality in the precinct, at the very crossing which has various safety issues that we have been pushing council to rectify,” said Ms Meredith.
The change.org petition, which has amassed more than 200 signatures,calls on Maribyrnong council to “support the residents of the Joseph Road Precinct Footscray“.
The petition asks council to implement pedestrian crosswalks, safe pathways, and speed limit enforcement.
The petition reads,“The safety concern in the Joseph Road Precinct directly impacts the hundreds of residents living in the area, with the potential to affect even more individuals in the future“.
“Currently, the lack of safe crossings and pathways poses a tangible risk to pedestrians navigating Whitehall Street, Hallenstein Street, Warde Street, Joseph Road, Neilson Place, Wightman Street, and Hopkins Street. Currently there are unsafe road conditions and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure.
“Immediate action is crucial to prevent further incidents or additional fatalities and build a safer community for both current and future residents.”
For more than 18 months, Ms Meredith said she and other members of the Maribyrnong community have been trying to communicate with council with no luck.
“Council keeps telling us it is going to take a long time to fix, sometimes they don’t even reply to our messages,” she said.
“A lot of residents have been asking for crossings and safety measures, nothing at all has happened.
“If those people saw the streets they would be horrified at the situation and how it’s getting busier and more dangerous.
“We just don’t want to see another fatality, we’d like some safety things put into place.”
Ms Meredith said she hopes the council will be “transparent“ during this time of community concern.
“If they’re not going to do all the roads, okay then be transparent and tell us what safety measures you are going to put in place.
“The basic infrastructure in our neighbourhood, expected to be completed one to two years ago, still remains incomplete.”
Maribyrnong council was asked for comment.
