Mum launches crossing appeal
by Hayley Robinson
A mum who claims she was
forced to stop traffic so she could cross a busy road with her
toddler has started a safe crossing petition.
Sian Chapman says she had
been waiting 10 minutes with her 22-month-old daughter Amelia to
cross Murston Road, Murston.
After telling the tot to stay
on the pavement with the buggy, the 23-year-old, of Shortlands
Road, Sittingbourne, stepped out into coming traffic about 4.30pm
last Wednesday.
She said: "I was just waving
my arms around like a lunatic and shouting at people to stop. Even
Ameila was shouting ‘stop cars’.
"The traffic did eventually
stop. I then called Amelia over to me and walked her over to the
other side of the road, where I told her to wait.
"The buggy was still on the
opposite side so I had to go back and get it. This time it was
easier to get across because the motorists had seen what was going
on.
"I put myself in grave danger
for the sake of letting my child cross safely. Action has to be
taken.
"On one occasion while trying
to cross with my daughter, who at the time was a few months old, a
van came speeding down the road and almost hit my pram, leaving me
and other witnesses very shaken.
"There’s no crossing there at
all and it’s probably one of the longest stretches of roads in
Sittingbourne."
Mrs Chapman is now calling on
Swale council and Kent County Council to install at least two
crossings along the road.
She said: "I’d like to see a
zebra crossing or a pedestrian crossing, especially when you
consider the fact Canterbury Road primary school isn’t too far
away.
"We could do with one near
the Canterbury Road end and another up by the Co-op, which is just
past the railway bridge.
"At the moment you’ve just
got to take your chances when crossing."
Mrs Chapman will be knocking
on doors in the area over the coming days asking residents to sign
the petition.
It can also be signed at
Woodberry Drive Stores, Murston Newsagents, in Murston Road, and
the Co-op, in Church Road.
n What do you think?
Write to Sittingbourne News Extra, 44 High Street, Sheerness, ME12
1NL or email sittingbourne@thekmgroup.co.uk
15/11/12
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