Today, we witnessed something every parent fears. Another young girl was hurt on St Leonards Place, right outside our school. It's a heart-stopping moment when you hear tyres screech and a child’s scream, and it’s a scenario that’s easily avoidable if only we take proactive measures.

St Leonards Place, during critical times when our children are arriving at or leaving school, becomes a gauntlet of cars both in motion and parked illegally. The visibility for our kids is severely compromised, and it's only a matter of time before another incident occurs if we do not act now. We have a responsibility to ensure our children's routes to and from school are safe.

I am calling on our local council to install barriers during peak school times: 8:30 to 9:15 AM, and 3 to 3:30 PM. This precautionary step will ensure that no vehicles can go up or down this road during these times, creating a safe, car-free zone for our children. This simple act could drastically reduce the risk of further accidents and provide peace of mind to every parent sending their child off to school each day.

Consider the statistics: road accidents are a leading cause of injury among children in urban areas. In environments where traffic is controlled, and pedestrian space is increased, accident rates plummet. Schools that have implemented similar measures have seen notable improvements in safety and community satisfaction.

Let's not wait until another tragic incident forces our hand. We need to protect our children today by closing St Leonards Place during these vulnerable hours. Our children deserve safe spaces to learn and grow without the fear of getting hurt.

Please sign this petition to urge our local council to prioritize child safety and close St Leonards Place during these critical times. Together, we can create a safer environment for all our children.