2:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009
By Ruth Lumley
A mother has renewed calls to make a road safer after her son was hit by a car in the same spot where a young boy died last year.
Bailey Hill, 11, was knocked down on Chalky Road in Portslade as he walked to Mile Oak Primary School with his younger brother Regan, seven.
A speed limit of 20mph was introduced on the road after nine-year-old Henry Nugent was hit by a car after stepping off a bus outside Portslade Community College last July. He suffered major head injuries and later died in hospital.
Bailey’s mum, Debby Hill, said: “I would never wish it on anyone, he was really lucky. When I had that knock on the door and someone telling me Bailey had been hit by a car the first thing I thought of was little Henry.”
Bailey was left with a black eye and bruising on his body and both brothers are in shock.
The incident happened on Monday morning. Miss Hill had already been planning to attend a meeting that evening to discuss safer access to the nearby park from Chalky Road.
Now she is even more determined that road must be made safer.
She said: “It is just a terrible road. This area is full of kids who can’t get across the road to the park.
“Bailey was lucky as the lady was slowing down to drop her son off at Portslade Community College but some people speed down there.
“Most people think they should put a proper pelican crossing somewhere in the middle of the park and sports centre.”
Bob Carden, a ward councillor for North Portslade, has written to Brighton and Hove City Council asking for a review of the current traffic management measures, a traffic count on the road and an assessment to determine whether different signs would be more effective.
He has also requested regular use of mobile speed cameras and that council and police officers meet with local residents to draw up an action plan to tackle the issue.
Coun Carden said: “The 20mph limit has now been in place for several months but is not fully addressing the problem.”
A council spokeswoman said: “Since the tragic accident on Chalky Road last year, a 20mph limit has been put in place and traffic calming chicanes have also helped to reduce traffic speed.”
A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said the latest incident was not being investigated as it is being treated as pedestrian error.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/