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Dartford Safer Roads campaigners carve pumpkins in fight to reduce Temple Hill speed limit

12:56, 29 October 2018

updated: 12:57, 29 October 2018

Children campaigning for lower speed limits on a residential road have used Hallowen to get their message across on road safety - by carving speed limits into a pumpkin.

Dean Povey, who was hit by a car in Temple Hill in September, was joined by others at a Halloween party on Saturday showing off their designs.

The young campaigners - who are part of the Dartford Safer Roads campaigned - carved a 20mph logo into their pumpkins as part of a long challenge to try and change the speed limit of the road.

The pumpkins carved by children as part of the Dartford Safer Roads campaign.
The pumpkins carved by children as part of the Dartford Safer Roads campaign.

Around 1,500 signatures were gathered when 12-year-old girl Gracie Maddox was put on life support after she was knocked off her bike, on the Fleet Estate, in June last year.

She spent four months at King's College Hospital in London after suffering fractures to her skull.

Darren Povey, Dean's father, thinks residents in the area remain in danger with the road's current speed limit.

Dean Povey, 14, was left in hospital after being hit by a car.
Dean Povey, 14, was left in hospital after being hit by a car.

He said: "We just want to stop any other family going through what we have been through.

"We have been lucky Dean has made such a good recovery, but the fact remains pedestrians on Temple Hill remain in danger while some motorists treat it as race track."

Gracie Maddox's mother, Jessica, went to the Halloween party to carry on her campaigning mission.

"Children continually tell us they do not feel safe..." - Laura Edie

She said: "We are lucky Gracie is doing well, but it has been a long journey for our family. We want to see a 20mph speed limit here.

"It has been done in other places including Tonbridge Wells, Bristol and Newnham so why not Dartford?

"We had fun tonight and the pumpkins were a good way of getting people talking about Dartford Safer Roads."

Gracie Maddox at King's hospital on life support following a tragic accident on Fleet Estate, Dartford on June 26, 2017.
Gracie Maddox at King's hospital on life support following a tragic accident on Fleet Estate, Dartford on June 26, 2017.

Fellow campaigner Laura Edie, 33, revealed she is constantly being told by children that they don't feel safe.

She added: "Children continually tell us they do not feel safe with the speed cars drive at in Dartford and parents tell us they don't like their children walking because they fear the speed of cars.

"We want a widespread slow-down of cars for this reason, this would reduce their indirect harm too, as with 20 mph limits pollution is reduced, ultimately it would make Dartford a nicer place to live, and journey times are not effected as speeds are more consistent and they is less stopping at junctions."

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