We, the undersigned parents, carers and local residents, are calling on Merton Council to urgently review pedestrian safety at The Close, near Mitcham Tramway, used by families accessing Cranmer Primary School.
On 17 March 2026, my six-year-old child, was hit by a car at around school collection time and suffered two broken bones in his leg. His injuries required 9 weeks in a cast, followed by a lengthy recovery and physiotherapy.
This incident has highlighted our concerns about the safety of children using the walkway and the road, particularly during busy school drop-off and collection times.
Children regularly walk in and out between the bushes along the walkway, which can allow them to emerge directly onto the road. We believe the current layout needs to be properly assessed and that practical measures should be considered to reduce this risk.
What we are asking the council to do
1. Install a suitable fence or pedestrian barrier
Assess and install an appropriate fence or barrier to separate the walkway from the road and help prevent children from stepping directly into traffic.
2. Restrict vehicle access during school hours
Investigate introducing timed vehicle access restrictions during school drop-off and collection times, or another suitable traffic-management scheme, to reduce the risk to children and families.
3. Improve visibility
Inspect and maintain the bushes and vegetation to ensure pedestrians and drivers have clear visibility.
4. Carry out a highway safety assessment
Arrange a site inspection and assess the risks to children and other pedestrians, including the suitability of barriers, warning signs and other safety measures.
5. Provide a clear response and action plan
Explain what measures can be introduced, who is responsible for implementing them and when action will be taken.
We recognise that the council will need to assess the most appropriate and practical measures for this location. However, we believe the safety of children and families must be a priority, and we ask that these concerns are treated urgently.
Our aim is to help prevent another child from suffering a serious injury. We ask Merton Council to listen to the concerns of parents and residents and work with the school and local community to make this route safer.