Don't let anyone else die here

From the archive, first published Monday 23rd Apr 2007.

ALMOST 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for road safety measures to be introduced where a young woman was killed.

Sheri Lawrence, 20, of Kents Hill Road, Benfleet, died when she was hit by a car as she walked across the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Rectory Grove and Elm Road, in Leigh.

She was with her fiance John Hearne, 22, when the accident happened.

It is not yet clear what caused crash, which happened last Wednesday, and police do not know if speed was a factor.

Fai Turffrey, 28, a sales assistant at That's Bizarre, in Broadway West, witnessed the immediate aftermath of the accident. It prompted her to organise a petition calling for the authorities to do something to make the roads around Rectory Grove, Broadway West and the Broadway, safer.

Ideas mooted include speedhumps, lowering the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph, and installing speed cameras.

She said: "I got there just after the accident happened. I can't get that image out of my head. I thought I had to do something.

"I work in Broadway West and I'm quite shocked how some people drive along that part of the road.

"I also see people driving fast along Rectory Grove. I've been saying something awful will happen one day."

Mr and Mrs Turffrey collected almost 500 signatures for the petition on Saturday morning alone. They also placed forms in local shops.

Steve Tarbard, owner of Squeeze juice bar in Rectory Grove, agreed speeding was a problem in the area.

He said: "There are so many wallies driving around Leigh. It definitely needs sleeping policemen. They can slow cars down to 15mph.

"All the time cars go too fast. It will be the Broadway next time someone gets hit."

Essex Safety Camera Partnership revealed it would be reviewing the area around the junction of Rectory Grove and Elm Road, in Leigh, to see if a speed camera or other safety measures could be introduced.

Before Sheri's death there were two car accidents recorded in the area in three years. One resulted in a slight injury, in 2006, and another, in 2004, was classed as a serious injury accident.

Leigh councillor Peter Wexham said: "Perhaps speed cushions like they have in Thames Drive are an option."