Pupils’ safety message

WELL DONE . . . pictured near the construction site are (back left) Judith Shaughnessy (judge), Ivor Goodsite, site manager Marc Westlake and (front) competition winners (from the left) Jacob Bevan, Ben Hendrik and Candice Heaton

CHILDREN from Royton Hall Primary School put crayons to paper for a competition designed to highlight the dangers of playing on a building site.

The pupils were chosen for the project because their school is near the site of Royton’s new Health and Well-being Centre.

The idea was the brainchild of Mansell, the construction company responsible for building the new centre, and aims to discourage children from playing on the site.

The children, aged between four and seven, were asked to design a poster with the theme of the dangers of playing on a construction site.

Ivor Goodsite, Mansell’s health and safety mascot, presented prizes to the three winners at a school presentation.

Marc Westlake, site manager at the Royton development, said: “A construction site is a natural attraction to many children, who are often unaware of the dangers. This is a bigger risk when a site is near to a school.

“We wanted to educate the children in a fun and interesting way, so they really take the messages on board.”

Gail Richards, chief executive of NHS Oldham, the primary care trust responsible for local NHS services, added: “We place huge importance in involving local people in all of our developments.

“This competition is not only helping to achieve this, but also helping to ensure the safety of local children.”

The new centre is due to open in winter 2010 and will replace the current Royton Health Centre.