Villagers campaign for 20mph zone after teen dies

A village has come together to commemorate the life of a 15-year-old boy and campaign for a 20mph speed limit in the area.

Freddie Coleman from Stock, Essex, died after being hit by a car while on his way to school in November.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the time on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

Essex Highways said its team conducted "full investigations" after fatal collisions, to see whether "related highway factors may have contributed".

Freddie's friend was also seriously injured in the incident, which happened at about 08:20 GMT on 3 November.

On Saturday residents joined Freddie’s family to call for the speed limit to be reduced in the village from 30mph to 20mph.

Freddie’s sister Daisy, 29, said: “We just want to take a stand because Freddie lost his life on this road and we don’t want anyone else to. If doing this saves another person, why not?

“The community has been so supportive from the moment that it happened, it’s unreal. There are no words for how kind people have been.”

Residents held placards dedicated to Freddie and featuring the 20mph "slow down" road sign, as they marched from the village hall to the green.

On Saturday a community speedwatch team, using speed guns, recorded 10 drivers travelling at over 36mph – the threshold for informing the police.

Rob Pritchard, a Stock parish councillor, said residents had been concerned about the level of speeding for many years, but that Freddie’s death had "focused minds".

The parish council has now applied to Essex Highways for a reduction in the speed limit to 20mph, and for speed cameras to be installed at either end of the village.

Mr Pritchard added: “This is a campaign to increase road safety and hopefully prevent any tragic accidents happening in the future.”

In a statement, Essex Highways said: “We were deeply sorry to hear about the death of this young man and our full condolences go out to his family.

“Following fatal collisions on the road network, the Road Safety Engineering team conducts full investigations to find any related highway factors that may have contributed.

“If clear patterns or trends are found and remedial measures can help prevent them, these will be put forward for consideration through casualty reduction schemes.”

Essex Police is continuing to investigate the incident.

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