Emily campaigns for safer walk to school in Upminster
�A nine-year-old girl is campaigning for new footpaths in Upminster because she says it is dangerous walking to her school without them.
Emily Kinder, from Oakfields Montessori School, wrote to Havering Council, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, her MP, Angela Watkinson, and Prime Minister David Cameron.
She highlighted the lack of footpaths in Harwood Hall Lane and children’s safety.
The school said it was difficult to walk to the school without needing to step onto a narrow and busy road.
In her letter, Emily says: “My school has no pavement outside. This means it is very dangerous for me and my friends to walk to school.
You may also want to watch:
‘Dangerous’
“I would like to walk to school because it is healthy, fun and better for the environment. I enjoy walking to school but there is no footpath in Harwood Hall Lane.
Most Read
- 1 Chronically ill Romford man's fight for diagnosis after being told problem is psychological
- 2 Action promised over 'lorry parking forcing children to walk in busy road'
- 3 'Lovely service': Initial impressions of Kem Cetinay's restaurant Array
- 4 Lower Thames Crossing: How would Upminster be affected?
- 5 Romford ‘best in region’ chef shares his cooking tip and favourite dish
- 6 'He was petrified': Rainham mother calls for more action on bullying
- 7 'Unexplained' Collier Row death 'not believed to be suspicious'
- 8 Covid stats show cases rising across east London boroughs
- 9 Daniel Laskos stabbing: Teens charged with murder to face court
- 10 Hornchurch gym sees 'growing trend' of members post-lockdown
“If cars come along the lane a little too fast, I have to jump onto the mud and I am worried that I may slip onto the road.”
Oakfields deputy head Laura Ciftci said: “We now eagerly await a positive outcome for improved footpath facilities in Harwood Hall Lane, with the sincere support of our pupils and our local MP.”
Cllr Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for environment, said: “I understand Emily’s concerns and we are working with both Corbets Tey and Oakfields Montessori schools to improve access for pupils like her. Unfortunately, the land around her school is private and not public land owned by the council.
“Work will start next month to build a new footpath at the northern side of Harwood Hall Lane to Corbets Tey School. We are also working with Emily’s school as we look to see if we can secure external funding to link the new footpath with a new crossing point.”
