Schoolgirl dies after crash at village bus stop

The girl, 11, was being treated in St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where she was taken following the collision on the B2139 Storrington Road close to the Abingworth development.

The crash happened at 7.45am on Wednesday March 22.

Thakeham Parish Council has been working with developers, the county council and the police on amendments to proposals put forward by Abingworth Developments, which is behind a major housing scheme in the village, to include new traffic calming measures.

They are also looking at extending a 40mph stretch along the road before commuters get to the 30mph speed limit in the village.

Should the plans be approved they would be delivered in two phases, with the first phase starting in August.

Phase one would involve improvements to signage and road markings at the bend of the 30mph zone.

The second phase of more substantial works would put give-way pinch points through the crunch zone to slow down traffic and put better pedestrian crossings in place.

Speaking before it was known the girl had died, and in general terms about the history of the road, council clerk Owen Richards said the road had been used as a ratrun by commuters travelling to and from Storrington in rush hour.

He said because of the national speed limit before entering the 30mph zone in the village a lot of vehicles continued to travel quickly.

He said: “There’s nothing enforcing it so they feel they can breeze it at 40mph or more then get back to 60mph.”

Mr Richards added: “We wish we had not had to fight so hard or so long to get anywhere with this.”

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