THE mother of a toddler who was hurt on a dangerous zebra two years ago - is furious after he was nearly killed once again.
Lisa Mehmet, of Hicks Avenue, Greenford, was walking home from Coston Primary School, in Oldfield Lane South, last Friday (18) when her eight-year-old son, Connor, was nearly struck by a car on the zebra crossing in Greenford Road, just before the roundabout with the A40. Two years ago, the boy was taken to hospital after a similar incident on the same zebra crossing.
The mother-of-two said: “My son was very nearly hit again. This woman just pulled out behind a stationary car - we could've been killed. I did a petition last time and complained to my MP Steve Pound. The council wrote back but said they can't put lights up and there's nothing they can do about it.
“I'm fuming, something needs to be done. The cars just don't want to stop, they come off the A40 and just put their foot down. Somebody's going to be killed there - is that what it takes before anything is done? They need to put in lights or have a lollipop lady at least because there are kids walking over there who are eight years old.”
Although, the council are lobbying TfL, which looks after the A40, for a new pelican crossings on the Western Avenue, the plans do not include any changes to the existing zebra crossings on Greenford Road on either side of the roundabout.
MP for Ealing North Steve Pound said: “Thank god the child wasn't hurt. But there's no way TfL are going to allow a crossing on that piece of land. Between Ruislip Road and Greenford Roundabout there's three crossings and five sets of traffic lights already. Ultimately, nothing can be done.
“The situation might change with the new pedestrian crossing on the Western Avenue. It might make it worse or make it better, I'm not sure yet. Another problem is the illegal U-turns in Cowgate Road.”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, has tasked a team to investigate the crossing and ways to improve it so that children can cross safely.
