An urgent review has been launched into the safety of a New Malden junction where a 14-year-old girl died after she was hit by a lorry.
The junction with Coombe Road and Lime Grove the morning of the accident
An online petition was launched into reviewing safety at the junction with Coombe Road and Lime Grove after Coombe Girls’ School pupil Lavna Chuttoo was killed on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
The petition, calling on Kingston Council to review the “effectiveness” of a nearby zebra crossing, was presented to Maldens and Coombe councillors last Thursday.
Friday, November 27: Safety concerns over New Malden junction where Coombe Girls' pupil school Lavna Chuttoo was hit by lorry
Thursday, November 19: "She will always be in my heart": Parents of Coombe Girls' School pupil Lavna Chuttoo, 14, pay tribute to daughter killed by lorry in New Malden
Thursday, November 17: 14-year-old Coombe schoolgirl killed after being hit by truck in New Malden named as Lavna Chuttoo
New Malden councillor Julie Pickering said: “Obviously the community were really concerned and it puts a spotlight of all of that junction.
“There are a number of factors that we are looking at. In this instance on this petition there’s already work that we as councillors have considered with the traffic officer.”
Following Lavna’s death residents asked whether HGVs should be allowed to use the narrow residential roads for deliveries when children are travelling to school.
The petition was started in early December and by the time it was presented to councillors had gathered more than 600 signatures, surpassing the 500 needed for a full council debate.
A number of options were put forward to improve safety at the junction, including improving access from Coombe Road into Lime Grove - the junction where Lavna was killed - because of tight corners.
Hundreds of flowers were laid in memory of Lavna at her funeral in New Malden
Lead petitioner Jenny Stuart, of Rosebery Avenue, New Malden, said: “People have been concerned for years, I’ve walked that crossing twice a day for years and now I have got children myself.
“There were so many people that felt that when the accident happened last year it just bought about so many concerns.”
“All we have asked for is for the council to look at the safety and for the experts to look at the speeds people are travelling at. I’m not a traffic expert and I’m not going to make suggestions, I just want to see it as a safe place to cross.”
The petition will be debated at the next full council meeting on Tuesday, March 1.
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