NEWS: RoadPeace Doves land in Great Malvern
A new art installation reflecting on the lives taken in road traffic collisions has been set up in Great Malvern.
Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) has partnered with RoadPeace to bring the ‘Peace in the Park’ campaign to Priory Park.
The installation, which will be available to view until 27 June, features pictures of people killed in road traffic collisions on a series of doves (the logo of RoadPeace).
The aim is to raise awareness of the need to do more to stop unnecessary death and injury on the roads. The doves represent peace, love, and hope.
The doves were made by the Birmingham Youth Justice Service with young people who have been involved in driving crime as part of their reparation work, family members bereaved through road crashes, and colleagues of project partner CFG Law.
RoadPeace is the national charity for road traffic collision victims, the charity offers a number of support services for those affected by road crashes, including a peer support group for those bereaved in the West Mercia region.
An Outreach Day will be held from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, 7 June, at the Bandstand in Priory Park, Great Malvern.
Representatives from RoadPeace and MHDC’s Community Services team will be available to talk to the public about the artwork, the support available and the actions people can take to campaign for road danger reduction.
Jennie Watkins, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Housing at MHDC, said: “We are proud to be part of such an important initiative which honours the lives lost and provokes much-needed conversations around road safety. As part of our Council Plan, we aim to support and enable our communities to become healthier, safer, and stronger. This means working with RoadPeace to bring the ‘Peace in the Park’ campaign to Great Malvern’s Priory Park”.
Lucy Harrison, RoadPeace West Mercia Group Coordinator said: “The RoadPeace Doves highlight the unacceptable toll of road death, and remind everyone that victims are more than statistics. For our West Midlands and West Mercia Groups, it is very special to see the doves travelling to different locations, and ensures their loved ones will not be forgotten – society has become too accepting of lives taken on our roads and we hope the doves will provoke conversation and action to prevent future deaths.”
Abbie Brooks, RoadPeace West Mercia Project and Outreach Coordinator added: “The doves have been created by families of those killed in road traffic collisions, alongside young people involved in driving-related crime. It is incredibly poignant to see so many loved one’s photos displayed on the artwork and allows an opportunity to highlight the unacceptable number of victims whose lives have been taken on our roads. I hope members of the public viewing the doves remember that behind each one of these photos is a life lost, and understand that road crime is real crime.”
Visit www.roadpeace.org to find out more.