Safety plea after boy injured at 'accident blackspot' in Great Barr
A notorious 'accident blackspot' which has seen more than a dozen crashes in three years should have a pedestrian crossing installed, according to a councillor.
It comes a week after a 11-year-old boy was hit by a car at the junction of Aldridge Road and Greenholm Road in Great Barr.
A discussion with Highways bosses has now been called for.
Councillor Tristan Chatfield, who represents the Oscott ward, said that it was a 'matter of time' before someone is killed.
He said: "This has been an on-going issue for far too many years. This is on a route to a lot of schools and it is very dangerous junction and a number of accidents have happened there.
"It is an accident blackspot. Every year there is always something that happens there during term time.
"Following the latest accident we are going to have a another discussion with Highways bosses to see if we can make progress with it.
"It is difficult to get funding released but this is an incredibly tricky junction and it is only a matter of time for something fatal to happen there."
Following the incident last week the boy was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital with head, pelvic and hand injuries.
Councillor Chatfield continued: "We had a sign up there for a long time warning drivers and we even started a petition and had meetings about it - but sadly we have never found a way to gain the funding to get something installed.
"A pedestrian crossing would be ideal or traffic lights. Anything to slow the cars down as they approach that junction.
"We are lucky that the lad who was hurt this time only had minor injuries.
"There are so many colleges and schools just around the corner. We need to find out what will work best and now speak with residents and the council to get something sorted."
Last year double yellow lines were painted close to Greenholm Primary School, following a community campaign.
They came as a bid to boost safety and halt parking problems in the area.
Ward councillors had also been working on the scheme to have them introduced alongside new bollards on nearby verges.
In 2013 Councillor Keith Linnecor called for speed calming measures at the junction of Aldridge Road, Greenholm Road and Thornbridge Avenue.
