Call for safety on road as child knocked down

Campaigners are calling for more safety measures along a Wednesbury road after a second child was knocked down in less than a month.

An 11-year-old boy was hit by a car on Friday along Hydes Road.

The incident took place near to Wodensborough Community Technology College. He suffered head injuries but was in a stable condition in Sandwell Hospital over the weekend. It followed an earlier accident further along the same road when an eight-year-old boy suffered serious injuries.

He was knocked over on April 29, just yards from his home in Griffiths Road.

Councillors have warned it could only be a matter of time before a child is killed if action isn't taken to slow the traffic along the route.

Wednesbury South ward councillor Michael Middleton said drivers often travelled along Hydes Road at excessive speeds and there were often children trying to cross to get to the park or the school.

He said the area around the railway bridge between the school and the Griffiths Road junction was a particularly dangerous area as it was difficult to see around the bend and there was only pavement on one side of the road.

"Kids often think they are invincible and may walk in the road and it can be dangerous," he said.

"It needs a pavement on both sides under the bridge.

"There is also no crossing just outside the school so it needs something for the kids to safely cross the road.

"Hydes Road is a big, long road and it needs some measures along it, such as sleeping policemen.

"With two accidents in a relatively short space of time, it is only a matter of time before someone is killed if something isn't done," he added.

Friday's collision involved a Skoda which struck an 11-year-old near to the school and the park. He was taken to Sandwell Hospital shortly before 3.30pm suffering from a head injury.

Police also attended but no criminal proceedings are expected.