Crash survivor joins campaigners to petition Mayor over A23 road danger

Nicola Wilding: survivor of a crash on A23

Crash survivor Nicola Wilding today joined Safer A23 campaigners to petition London Mayor Sadiq Khan for action to end the high level of deaths and injuries in Streatham.

Mum of one, Nicola, aged 40, who was born and brought up in Streatham, suffered permanent injury to her arm in a crash on the A23 in May 1999.

Today she joined Michelle Hammond, whose brother Francis was killed at St Leonard’s Junction in Streatham in May 2014. Together with campaigners from the Safer A23 campaign, they demonstrated outside City Hall before a meeting of the Greater London Assembly (GLA).

At the meeting there was a strong demonstration of political parties working together.  Florence Eschalomi (Labour) presented the 3,000-strong petition on behalf of the campaign, supported by Transport Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon (Lib-Dem) and transport committee member Caroline Russell (Green).

Nicola Wilding, who had her arm amputated after the crash on the A23, and who is currently raising funds for a new 'bionic' limb, said: “As someone who has had to live with a disability, I think we have to value human life and think a lot smarter about our roads. We need to make the roads work for everyone – pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

"We have intelligence, engineers and thinking people; if we all put our heads together we must be able to do it. We need to work together and make it a lot safer for the next generation.”

Campaigners and politicians join forces for Streatham

Campaigners are calling on transport planners to re-think the way the A23 is designed in town centres such as Streatham.

Caroline Russell (Green) said: “It’s awful that families and friends are losing loved ones just crossing the road. The vehicle-dominated A23 through Streatham is a prime example of an arterial road tearing through a busy shopping and residential area. The road designers need a completely fresh approach. It should be safe and easy to cross the road and people walking and cycling should know and feel that their safety is a top priority for the Mayor.“

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, who lives in Streatham, said: “We must make our streets safer and change the road hierarchy to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, over cars and other motor vehicles. Driving can never be without risks – but policy changes can save lives.”

Streatham Green and A23 campaigner Chris Holt said: “The A23 through Streatham is a prime example of how London gets it wrong. On a stretch of road just 1.8 miles long, on average there are six collisions every month; seven people receive life-changing injuries each year and one or two families are bereaved.

“Road deaths and serious injuries should not be seen as inevitable. It is shocking that Londoners are expected to put their lives in their hands each day just trying get about.”

Michelle Hammond, whose brother Francis was killed in May 2014, said: “The impact on families is devastating. If we can fight to keep someone else safe that would be the best thing that can come out of this. Francis deserves to rest in peace, as do all the people who’ve died on the roads.”

Caroline Pidgeon AM (Lib Dem) said: “TfL needs to work with local residents to ensure that the A23 is transformed into a safe place for local residents that is also greener and slower.”

Notes

1.   On the A23 in Streatham there have been 389 collisions in the 5 years 2011-15 – including 8 resulting in deaths and 35 in serious, life-changing injuries such as brain damage or loss of limb. (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/london-collision)

2.      Most of those killed or seriously injured in Streatham between 2011 and 2015 were pedestrians (24 including 3 children). Fifteen were motorcyclists; 5 were bus passengers; 5 were in cars and 3 were pedal cyclists. (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/london-collision)