The mother of a schoolboy who was hit by a car is delighted a crossing could be installed on what she calls a "dangerous road".

Freddie Frape's leg was broken when he was struck as he crossed Cowley Drive in Woodingdean.

The 12-year-old's mother Emma said a pedestrian crossing would benefit the whole community.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it would be considering a request for a crossing on the “tricky” road after an application was put in by ward councillor Dee Simson.

Freddie, a keen footballer and Chelsea fan, ended up with a snapped shin bone after he was hit on the 30mph road while trying to get to a sweet shop.

The Argus: Freddie and his dad Steven leaving the Royal AlexandraFreddie and his dad Steven leaving the Royal Alexandra (Image: Emma Frape)

Emma, 35, said: “It’s really good news that it’s being considered, not just for the children who are always crossing that road after school. It’s also good for the residents around there, there are a lot of elderly people in the area. It will help everybody.

“It’s a tricky road to cross, there’s buses there all the time and people double park because they want to nip into the shop or use the pharmacy.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t been considered sooner to be honest.”

Freddie was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton after the accident on January 31.

He had an operation which involved putting in titanium rods into his leg which will remain in place before being taken out in around six months’ time.

Freddie, who plays for Saltdean United’s under 13s, cannot play football for at least the next nine months.

Emma said: “Freddie is doing OK, he is getting more mobile on his crutches but we won’t know 100 per cent of his recovery until he is seen by the orthopaedics.

The Argus: Freddie is a big Chelsea fan and loves to play footballFreddie is a big Chelsea fan and loves to play football (Image: Emma Frape)

“They have to take the rods out eventually. If he was an adult, they wouldn’t take the rods out but because he’s still growing it can disrupt his leg bone growing.

“We reckon it will be about nine months until he recovers fully.

“He plays for Saltdean under 13s, they’re probably going to win their league and he can’t play which is a bit annoying.

“The team and coach came over and dropped off a card and sweets.

The Argus: Freddie and his dad Steven at Stamford Bridge in LondonFreddie and his dad Steven at Stamford Bridge in London (Image: Emma Frape)

“He is getting a bit bored, he can’t wait to get back to school. He isn’t really able to get anywhere at the moment if it’s a long walk.

“Hopefully he will be playing football again next season.”

Dee Simpson, Conservative councillor for Woodingdean, said: “I support anything that makes thing safer, but it’s got to be safer for everyone. It’s a difficult situation there because you have two bus stops next each other.

“It’s a difficult location, it would take a lot of consideration of where a crossing could safely go.

The Argus: Freddie's recovery will take around nine monthsFreddie's recovery will take around nine months (Image: Emma Frape)

“The shops rely on people coming and going using the parking spaces. But it’s the bus stops that would need to be looked at in terms of how they’re configured. It’s not a straightforward thing.”

Cllr Simson has also been campaigning for crossings in Bexhill Road opposite the play park and Falmer Road between Drove Road and Norton Drive.

A council spokesman said: “We were very sorry to hear of the recent accident on Cowley Drive and wish the injured boy a speedy recovery. 


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“Every year we recommend approval for a number of pedestrian safety projects based on data.

“We have previously assessed Cowley Drive through this approach and it didn’t score highly enough to warrant infrastructure improvement. 

“However, last month councillors agreed a new, secondary process for prioritising highway infrastructure improvements. 

The Argus: Cowley Drive in WoodingdeanCowley Drive in Woodingdean (Image: Google Maps) 

“This enables councillors to ask officers to assess not just collision data but also a range of other factors that are known to create difficulties for vulnerable road users. 

“Since the accident one of our Woodingdean ward councillors has asked us about the possibility of a pedestrian crossing in Cowley Drive.  

“We will be considering this request in due course.”