Safe Speed Forums

THE FAMILY of a little girl killed in an accident near her home in Rochdale have revealed they came close to suffering a second tragedy.

Just two weeks after his two-year-old sister Amama Batool died after being hit by a vehicle in Cook Street, Zain Shah, aged five, collided with a car when he ran out onto the road. He was lucky to escape with a cut to the neck.

Now the family, still struggling to get over the loss of their daughter, have added their voices to the growing campaign for traffic calming measures to be built in local streets.

Father, Tahir Ali Shah, said: “We’re all still deeply upset by what has happened. Every day we go to the tree where the flowers and teddy bears have been laid and cry for her.

“When Zain was hit on Sunday we couldn’t believe this had happened again. He had been holding onto his grandfather when he dashed into the road and collided with a car.

“He was lucky he wasn’t badly hurt, but it just shows how badly we need traffic caliming measures on these streets. We’re praying that this doesn’t happen to any other family.”

More than 100 members of the local community have signed a petition asking for speed bumps put on Roch Street and Cook Street, which are used by drivers as a rat run between Albert Royds Street and Halifax Road.

Tragedy

Christina Abrey, of Bishop Street, said: “My nephew Kaine knew Amama and when he heard what happened he told me his friend had died. When you hear a six-year-old child saying things like that it really brings the tragedy home to you.

“From 5pm these streets become a major rat run and everyone is worried about the traffic.”

Zulfiqar Hussein, also of Bishop Street, said: “We’re not saying that cars shouldn’t come down here. We’re saying they should be careful.

“We’ve been saying speed bumps should be put on these streets for years. Other streets are dangerous, such as the junction of Bishop Street and Canon Street.”

Councillor Jean Ashworth said: “I believe every estate should have traffic calming measures.

“The council has said traffic calming will be put in when Dale Mill is redeveloped, but more children could be killed in the meantime.”

Police arrested a 49-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of causing Amama’s death by dangerous driving. He was bailed until 12 October pending further inquiries.

Gez Wood, from Rochdale Council’s strategic housing service, said: “We’ll be installing traffic calming measures on residential streets in this area to accompany the development of housing on the former Dale Mill site. We would be looking to do all the streets from the Dale Mill site to Halifax Road.

“As a result of recent incidents we’re looking at ways to bring forward this part of the scheme so works can be carried out as soon as is practical.

“Members of the Wardlewirth and Hamer renewal area panel, officers and ward councillors take concerns about traffic management very seriously and are keen to resolve concerns when they are raised.”

Is there a reason why pavements can't be fenced on the majority of roads?

because it would kill lots of bikers.

Is there a reason why pavements can't be fenced on the majority of roads?

can you expand on this?

Because people would have to climb fences to cross roads.

Strange how it is always the driver to blame, never the parents.

It doesn't seem like the child was unattended, but was holding the grandfather's hand when he suddenly decided to cross the road.

The reason rat runs are so popular is that the major throughfairs have been slowed down so much that the ratruns are now quicker. Open up the major roads to make the flow of traffic quicker and the use of ratruns will decrease.