Father wants speed reduction after son hit by car

A father whose son was hit by a car outside his village school has called for speed reductions and an additional zebra crossing to be installed.

Kieran said Kai, 11, was left with cuts and bruises, after being involved in the incident outside East Bergholt High School in Suffolk.

He said it was not the first incident of its kind and his son was not left with serious injuries and is "a walking miracle".

East Bergholt Parish Council and the school support the changes. Suffolk County Council said improvements were being installed.

Kieran said he was told his son was about to cross the road with a friend, on 6 September.

"They looked left and right, stepped out into the road and were hit by a car."

He said "so many" people stopped to help and he was told Kai hit his forehead on the car's bonnet, he went up into the air and hit his head on the curb.

"He's very, very lucky, the boy is a walking miracle."

Dan Woodcock, the school's head teacher, said it was the third incident of its kind in the past four or five years.

"We're now really concerned it's only a matter of time before something more serious does happen."

Mr Woodcock wants a 20pmh speed limit along Heath Road in East Bergholt, additional traffic calming measures, and an additional zebra crossing as the one that was installed "was not in the right place".

Nigel Roberts, the vice-chairman of East Bergholt Parish Council, said he had been concerned about the traffic for a number of years and had engaged with Suffolk County Council.

"The road is dangerous to cross."

He would like signs for drivers to slow down, an additional pedestrian crossing, the footpaths cleared of undergrowth and the speed limit reduced.

"We've been in discussion on this for over three years and quite frankly we've just gone round in circles."

He said the parish council would be willing to fund some of the changes.

Suffolk County Council said it encourages people to make speed limit requests to "their councillor".

“A new pedestrian crossing and footpath improvements are currently being installed in the area, which are linked to ongoing developments in East Bergholt.

"These involve resurfacing, new street lights, tactile paving, a zebra crossing and road markings," it added.

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