Calls for road safety patrol after Canning Town pupil knocked down
Head teacher at Rokeby School, Charlotte Robinson London Assembly member Andrew Boff, resident Robert Gordon, London Assembly member Jenny Jones, and assistant head teacher at Rokeby School Sarah Lawson - Credit: Archant
Teachers and parents are calling for a safety patrol to protect students after a youngster was knocked down crossing the road to get to school.
Kwei Abloso, a Year Seven student at Rokeby School, on the Barking Road junction. - Credit: Archant
“Green man” pedestrian crossings were reduced from four to one on the busy junction connecting Hermit Road, Barking Road, and Beckton Road in Canning Town which students from neigbouring Rokeby School have to cross every day.
Staff and students campaigned for around a year to get the crossings reinstated, teaming up with London Assembly members Jenny Jones and Andrew Boff who visited in March.
Newham Council and Transport for London (TfL) have agreed to build new “green men” but a definite date has yet to be set as the local authority are awaiting planning approval from TfL.
But patience is wearing thin following an accident on Friday July 5 in which Year Seven pupil Kwei Abloso was knocked down crossing the junction from Beckton Road.
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He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken hip but, fortunately, he was only bruised.
Kwei added: “It is so dangerous not having pedestrian crossings at this junction to help people cross the road safely. I was lucky - the next person might not be.”
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A teacher also saw a near miss involving a child and a lorry the following Wednesday (July 10) which has led to staff asking the council to provide a patrol to keep their pupils safe while they wait for the crossings to be built.
Concerned parent Nadia Ahmed, who walks her son to school every day, said: “There is no zebra crossing or patrol crossing available so children are at risk every time they try to cross the road.
“This could be prevented if some safety procedures were put in place.”
A Council spokesperson said: “The safety of our children is paramount. We have urged TfL to make this their priority and the works are currently being programmed.
“The council is making every effort to ensure the ‘green man’ signals are implemented before the start of the new school term in September.
“Newham Council’s Safety Officer will also visit the school at the beginning of the school term, to advise on road safety generally, including pedestrian skills and how to use crossings.”
