Ten-year-old wins contest promoting tram works safety

Published on Friday 5 June 2009 10:26

TRAM chiefs have unveiled the latest member of the team helping to safely deliver the £545 million project – and he's only ten.

Jack Ferries, a pupil at Fox Covert School in Clermiston, beat off competition from youngsters across the city to provide the winning design for new safety posters, which will go up along parts of the route.

With so much of the city currently being dug up for the 11-mile tram line, contractors want to make sure children know the dangers associated with playing close to work sites.

Jack's winning entry features one of the all too familiar metal railings which currently line Princes Street, and asks: "What's behind this fence?"

The poster then warns fellow youngsters about the dangers associated with large work holes and heavy machinery

Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of tram firm TIE, said: "Jack's poster really captured the message that tram work sites must be treated with respect or could be dangerous.

"Children are fascinated and excited by the work, the tools we use and the large bits of kit on site.

"Our schools programme has been successful in explaining to youngsters about the trams but also alerting to them the dangers of work sites.

"I'm delighted with the quality of the posters and all of the hard work the children put in to them. They'll play a vital role as part of our work site communications."

Tram staff have been working with primary schools along the route to give pupils more information about the project.

Earlier this year 21 schools were visited to teach children the importance of staying safe around work sites.

Jack's poster, along with 10 other entries, will be used next to the tram work sites on Princes Street and at Haymarket.

Jack said: "It's great to see my poster up on the fences around the tram works.

"TIE came into my school and we learned all about the trams and how to make sure we don't play on the work sites. I'm looking forward to using the trams when they arrive."

Meanwhile, the council's new transport convener, Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, will today visit the replica tram when it goes on show at Ocean Terminal.

The mock-up has already been visited by around 80,000 people during its time in Princes Street and Constitution Street.

Cllr Mackenzie said: "I'm delighted that the tram mock up is proving so popular along the route. Leith will be a buzz of activity during the Leith Festival.

"I am sure that many thousands of people will take the opportunity to find out how these environmentally friendly trams will help move about our growing population quickly and efficiently to and from Leith and around Edinburgh."