SOUTH WOODFORD: William's dad defends speed cameras

5:36pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

THE father of a paperboy killed on one of the borough's most dangerous stretches of road has spoken of his continuing grief after a speed camera was re-installed at the site of his son's death.

William Walford-Grant, 13, died after he was hit by a car while delivering papers in Woodford Road in November 2002.

There were eight other serious collisions recorded on the stretch of road between 2001 and 2004, and speed calming measures such as cameras and road markings were installed in 2006.

Since the new provisions there have been no serious accidents, something William's father, Michael Walford-Grant said illustrated the vital need for speed cameras.

He said, "It's definite evidence for speed cameras as the figures speak for themselves. People drive much more slowly then they used to so it seems to have been effective."

Mr Walford-Grant said the pain of his son's passing was still very raw, and he and his wife Annie continued to tend a shrine at the spot of William's death, lighting a candle for him every night.

"It's still a very special place for us and it serves as a reminder for others of what can happen if you drive too fast.

"Michael is 19 next month and it's important that people don't forget."

Michael and Annie are now active supporters of Road Peace, one of Britain's leading charity organisations campaigning for safer streets, and last year helped raise £3,000 for the charity from businesses in George Lane.

He said the process was painful, uniting him with many of the people who knew and loved William, and that the speed cameras were one of the only comforts he could salvage.

He said: "In a small way it makes us feel better as we think no-one should have to go through the pain we have faced. Nothing can compare to the feeling of losing a child."

A London Safety Camera Partnership (lscp) spokesman echoed the importance of traffic calming measures.

He said: "New speed cameras are installed by the LSCP to further reduce casualties, building on the excellence track record of an average 53 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured at new speed camera sites."