Ronnie Anderson, a Year 6 student at Hylands Primary School in Romford, has taken action against the congestion and dangers of a nearby street by creating an online petition after a fellow pupil was involved in an accident.
On November 21, a nursery student at the school was struck by a car in Globe Road at the end of the school day, breaking their leg and leaving them needing an operation.
Ronnie’s mother, Nathalie Anderson, said: “Everyone who was there picking up their kids saw the little boy on the street. It was upsetting for everyone.
“He’s lucky it was only his leg. It was horrible for everyone to witness.”
Ronnie and Nathalie live in Manor Road, a ten-minute walk from the school, and have to pass Globe Road each day.
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“It has lot of near misses,” Nathalie explained.
“Everyone said it was an accident waiting to happen. There are always arguments between drivers, getting out their cars and screaming.”
Ronnie commented that “this has been a problem for ages.”
She said: “The council put in a school street scheme down a little cul-de-sac around the front of the school. This has just pushed the congestion further back so now it’s all down Globe Road.”
In response to the accident, Ronnie wrote to both his headteacher and Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, who put him in contact with St Albans ward councillor Judith Holt.
Nathalie told the Recorder: “We’re working with Judith Holt at the moment to get a change down that road.
“She suggested starting a petition but Ronnie is too young to set one up so I set it up on his behalf, but this really is Ronnie’s idea.
“The headteacher has been encouraging people to sign. All the comments I’ve had and all the parents I’ve spoken to at school have been really positive. Everyone agrees something needs to change.”
The petition received more than 300 signatures within the first week and is available at www.change.org/p/make-globe-road-safer-for-hylands-primary-school-community.
Ronnie has printed fliers with a QR code to his online petition to hand out in streets around Hylands Primary School.
“We’ve lived locally for five years now but I think the problems down Globe Road have been there since the school was built,” said Nathalie.
“Since the school street scheme has come in, it’s pushed congestion back, but even before that Globe Road has been an issue.
“Mine and other parents’ initial thought was to get Globe Road included in the school street scheme.
“If you’ve got any common sense you avoid Globe Road, but Ronnie wants to make a change.”
