A PETITION calling for signs and speed cameras on a road where three people including a six-year-old boy were recently killed is gaining momentum.
Campaigners have said there have been previous issues on the A44 Spetchley Road and the deaths have sparked them to launch the official petition appealing to Worcestershire Highways.
The petition, entitled Speed Camera Spetchley Road, says: "It is time a speed camera was installed on this 50mph stretch as well as a sign erected stating there is a school.
"Something needs to be done, either by lowering the speed, or installing a speed camera and definitely a warning sign stating there is a school.
"Something needs to be done sooner rather than later before anyone else loses their life."
Leo Painter, six, died when the Ford Mondeo and a grey BMW 3 series were involved in a crash on the road at around 3.07pm on Thursday, February 22.
Leo had just come out of Abigail’s Place school, which is opposite Spetchley Park Gardens, when the crash happened. Leo was rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but died a short time later.
Claire Adkins, 39, and Courtney Hemming, 26, who were with Leo in the Mondeo, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
The Worcestershire Coroner opened their inquests on Thursday.
Police are still investigating the crash. No details have been released and it is not known, at this time, if speed was a factor in this case.
Police said that, in the last five years, Jan 2019 - Feb 2024, there had been three crashes - including the February 22 one in which three were killed and two seriously hurt. The other two were slight injury collisions resulting in two slight injury casualties.
In their latest update, on Thursday, (March 7), a West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "No arrests have been made and the driver remains in hospital with injuries."
The Change.org petition had more than 180 signatures on Thursday afternoon, (March 7).
Sallie Coleshill, a friend of Gemma who is the mum of Leo, said she decided to launch it after speaking to residents in the area.
She said: "There have been accidents and near misses there before.
"I know councils often act after a fatality - it shouldn't take that for a council to react.
"We want speed cameras there - it is a 50mph stretch and it is like a race track.
"There is a school there, it needs a sign to let drivers know that. Hopefully, the council will listen.
"We only launched the petition last week, the number of people who have signed it already shows the strength of feeling."
Sallie added there wasn't a total number of signatures they were aiming for but wanted to encourage as many people as possible to continue to support them.
The petition can be found at change.org/p/speed-camera-spetchley-road.
Anyone with information is asked to email sciusouth@westmercia.police.uk or call 101 extension 773 3440 quoting 00283_I of 22 February.
Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimestoppers-org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel