Safety calls after crash

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7.

A SERIOUS crash in Lavender Hill, Enfield, has sparked renewed calls for action to improve safety on the road.

On Friday a biker was badly injured in a smash which involved two other vehicles.

The accident has added to the road's reputation as a safety blackspot and 'racetrack'.

For the last four years residents and a local school have been lobbying for traffic calming measures, so far with no success.

Friday's accident occured at 2.05pm at the junction of Lavender Hill and Chase Side.

It involved a Yamaha motorbike, a silver Ford Fiesta, and a blue Audi A4.

The motorcyclist, a 24-year-old man from Waltham Abbey, suffered a fractured leg and remains in a comfortable condition in Chase Farm Hospital. Two other people were treated for shock.

The crash happened next to St Michael's CE Primary School.

Every day pupils use the zebra crossing outside the school to cross Lavender Hill, and the stretch of road has long been considered a danger zone.

Last year an elderly man was knocked down at the crossing and died later in hospital.

And the school has logged 20 near misses at the location in the past two years.

Headteacher Kathryn Mann said: 'One boy had his ankle clipped by a lorry, and on another occasion a car stopped at the crossing but was shunted by the vehicle behind.

'If nothing is done to improve safety then one of these days someone's going to get killed.'

As far back as 1996 a petition calling for safety measures received massive support from residents.

In 1998 Mrs Mann, resident Steve Collins and two other residents met the then Enfield Council leader Jeff Rodin and borough engineers.

Mr Collins said the council promised to install 'School' signs and discuss traffic calming and a lorry ban ? but none of these was subsequently done.

He said: 'The contour gives the effect of an open road and encourages drivers to put their foot down whether they are going up or down the hill.

'Consequently high speed is reached at either end, and both ends have pedestrian crossings.

'The crossing by the school is behind a blind turn, which makes it worse.'

However in a response last month to a letter from Enfield North MP Joan Ryan, the council says it is planning to consult residents on possible safety measures with a view to starting work in December.

As the Independent went to press no one at the council was available to confirm this.

Police are appealing for witnesses to Friday's crash to come forward. Ring 8345 1387 with details.