Calls for crossing after girl hit by lorry

6:27pm Thursday 29th November 2007

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Campaigners are calling for a new crossing at the site where a young girl was left fighting for her life after being hit by a waste truck.

The three-year-old was struck by a lorry in Stonecot Hill last week and was in a serious but stable condition at St George's Hospital in Tooting.

She was taken there by ambulance after reportedly stepping out from a traffic island in the middle of the road.

The girl was said to have been crossing with her parents and suffered back injuries after being hit by a Merton Council vehicle.

Just weeks before the collision, Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow visited Stonecot to discuss road safety with residents.

Following the accident, Mr Burstow said he was working closely with ward councillor Tony Brett Young to press Transport for London (TfL) for an urgent review.

He said: "London Road is a busy, fast road where pedestrian islands do not always offer a safe place to cross.

"Last week's serious accident underlines the need for TfL to upgrade the two island crossings and replace them with zebra or pelican crossings."

As a regular user of the road, Coun Brett Young said he has long-standing concerns about the way vehicles speed up to catch the lights.

"This is a really dangerous stretch of road," he added. "We hope that our joint approach to TfL will emphasise to them our serious concerns about the situation."

Local road safety campaigner Adrian Short said his thoughts were with the girl and her family.

"To borrow a phrase from Martin Amis," he added, "At some times of the day the only way to cross the road is to be born there."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for TfL said its road safety team carried out a study of the collision history on the Sutton stretch of the A24 in March.

The statement said: "The study suggested a number of improvements that are specifically aimed at reducing casualties along this section of road, including Stonecott (sic) Hill.

"These schemes are currently being designed in preparation for consultation with key stakeholders and the public in the new year."