Balham kids instal pop-up zebra crossing to stop speeding drivers

South London kids installed a pop-up zebra crossing near their school after getting fed up with speeding drivers.

Children at Telferscot Primary School in Balham feel unsafe crossing Emmanuel Road to and from Tooting Common because of motorists who exceed the 20 miles per hour speed limit. 

They want Lambeth Council to install a permanent zebra crossing on the street to allow them to cross safely. The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it would be putting a new crossing at the site in the coming months and said it was already commited to doing so. 

Last week students teamed up with local ward councillors Donna Harris and Matthew Bryant, as well as ethical travel insurer ETA, to set up their own zebra crossing on the road.

Cllr Donna Harris and Cllr Matthew Bryant with kids from Telferscot Primary School next to the pop-up zebra crossing. CREDIT: Lambeth Liberal Democrats

They say replacing the current pedestrian island on the street with such a crossing would allow them to cross more safely when using the common for classes. Currently, teachers have to stand in the road to stop cars when children are trying to cross.

Cllr Harris, leader of Lambeth's Liberal Democrat opposition, has written to the Labour-led council's lead on transport, Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, calling on Lambeth to install a zebra crossing at the site.

The letter, dated February 24, reads: "Cllr Bryant and I have met with eco leaders from the school, and they told us cars often drive above the 20mph speed limit on Emmanuel Road and adults often must stand in the road to make sure cars stop for them when they're trying to cross the road.

"Having a proper zebra crossing would ensure these children, as well as residents of the Hyde Farm and Thornton area we represent, can safely cross the road. Along with children from the school, we are collecting signatures for a petition calling on the council to put a zebra crossing in place on Emmanuel Road near the junction with Telferscot Road."

Kids from Telferscot Primary School initially wrote to Lambeth Council calling on it to install a zebra crossing on the stretch of road near the school last year. 

Cllr Harris added: "Having a proper zebra crossing would ensure these children, as well as residents using Tooting Common, can safely cross the road.

"That's why we've organised a petition with the school children calling on the council to put one in place. We hope the council will listen to their concerns and take action to keep them safe." 

Lambeth Council said: "We are determined to making sure that every road in our borough is made safer for all road users. Improving safety and calming traffic around our schools is obviously a top priority, which is why we're already committed to providing a zebra crossing outside Telferscot School.

"Our cabinet member for sustainable Lambeth and clean air, Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, committed to this in November last year after she met with the head teacher and students from the school. We will be putting together a proposed scheme for a new crossing in the coming months."