Sutton dad wants dangerous crossing sorted before its too late

Chris King said he has been complaining to Sutton Council since September when his four-year-old son, George, started at Bandon Hill Primary school.

He said parents with their children have to wait on a “non-existent island” at the junction of Stafford Road and Sandy Lane South.

Chris King with his son George at the crossing in Wallington (credit: Chris King)

He added that buses sometimes swing into the junction.

The  45-year-old said: “Kids have to cross over a four-way junction, we feel it is incredibly dangerous.

“We all clamber onto the non-existent island when we cross the road. I know there have been near misses but how many near misses do there need to be before something is done.

"I worry a child could be hit and that would be the catalyst for them to do something.

“The whole junction needs a rework frankly, it is a terrible junction, especially bearing in mind there is a primary school 30 yards up the road.”

Sutton Council said it is aware of the concerns about the safety of the junction and was working with Transport for London (TfL) to look into changes.

Mr King added: “My other frustration is there is one bollard on the junction that the buses kept knocking over and that has been moved three times in the last six months.

"In the end they left the bollard where is was and shrunk the width of the pavement which is not intuitive.”

A Sutton Council spokesperson said: “Last year the council carried out emergency works to the island crossings at Stafford Road and Sandy Lane South to make more room for TfL buses that were unable to turn at the junction.

"This was at no cost to Sutton residents and TfL has paid us for these works.

“However, since carrying out these works we are aware of ongoing concerns locally about the junction and we are working with those residents and TfL to review the scheme and make some changes.

"We would like to encourage anyone who has concerns about the junction to contact the council.”