Calls For New Pedestrian Crossing In Leopold Road, Wimbledon (Petition)

[LocalEditorMerton]

A petition calling for a pedestrian crossing on Leopold Road (Wimbledon) has been given added weight after a young child was struck by a car within days of it being launched.

Yamini Franzini is calling for a crossing at the lower end of Leopold Road SW19. Just two days after the petition was launched, her neighbour six-year-old Simran Saraon was crossing at the junction with Dora Road to get to school with her mother Suneet when she collided with a car, getting stuck under its tyre. Thankfully she escaped serious injury, although she sustained bruising to her foot and now, understandably, refuses to walk to school.

Mrs Franzini, and her husband Nick are collecting signatures from people living and working in the area in a bid to get Merton Council to act. She said: "There’s nowhere safe to cross at the lower end". The petition is supported by the Leopold Road Traders Association.

If you wish to add support to the campaign, please see: Petition Papers

Many local school children attending nearby Ricards Lodge High School and Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School will cross this road several times daily. What are your thoughts on crossing Leopold Road or indeed any other roads in Merton which present similar hazards to adults and children alike?

A good idea but in addition to this the road sense of many children walking to school is very poor. I use Leopold road a lot in the morning and the girls from Ricards Lodge in particular seem to think that they are indestructible and are frequently taking their lives in their hands.
Of course this has nothing to do with this case in particular but in general some more education is needed in this area. Maybe they need some lollipop people on the surrounding roads not just very close to the school.