Crossings are not safe enough says Putney mum whose daughter, 6, was knocked down

By Ryan Hogg

A Putney mum whose six-year-old daughter was run over by a cyclist outside her school is pleading for safer crossing infrastructure.

Anna Sandgren, 42, was left in shock when her daughter Marta was knocked over while walking on a Zebra Crossing beside Oasis Academy Putney on the Lower Richmond Road two weeks ago.

Marta, who was left with cuts and bruises to her face and legs, had to receive medical attention at the scene.

Sandgren said: “At first I didn’t know if she was alive or dead.

“You realise how bad it could have been – now I’m afraid every time I walk past this street.

“People in their bikes and cars need to understand ‘this could have been my kid’”.

The road is heavily congested, with buses, bikes and cars all passing through the crossing.

Hundreds of primary school children walk along the zebra crossing each day, which sits between Putney Oasis Academy and All Saints Church of England Primary School.

Sandgren is calling for speed bumps, guards, video cameras and traffic lights to replace the current zebra crossing which she feels is no longer fit for the number of children now in the area.

Sandgren has launched a petition on change.org which has received more than 500 signatures.

She said: “I want to make this happen now because I can’t see a more fatal incident.

“It can’t happen again.”

She is taking the petition and its proposals to a council meeting tonight, Wednesday, October 13.

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, has thrown her support behind the proposed changes.

Anderson said: “The crossing opposite the Oasis Primary School is very dangerous, and many parents have contacted me about near misses or accidents their children have had.

“The Council must not wait until a worse accident before taking action, but put barriers up now and then more ways to slow the traffic urgently.”

Wandsworth’s cabinet member for transport Cllr John Locker said the council’s local transport budget had increased by £20m this year, some of which is expected to go to the crossing.

Locker said: “We have already had discussions with Oasis Academy and parents about changing the existing zebra crossing, which pre-dates the school, and have begun exploring the possibility of upgrading to a traffic signal-controlled pelican crossing.

“We will be working on design options and discuss with stakeholders like TfL which controls traffic lights across London and who would need to activate and maintain any new ones at this location.”

Picture: Anna Sandgren at the crossing. PICTURE: Ryan Hogg