A THREE-year campaign to slow traffic in Woodford Road following the death of a paperboy in 2002 has led to the installation of speed cameras.
The cameras are placed on either side of 30mph Woodford Road, near the spot where William Walford-Grant was knocked down and killed in November 2002.
Cllr Richard Hoskins welcomed the installation of the cameras, but added: "It has taken a long time to get the cameras in and it is tragic that it has taken the life of this young boy to get anything done. He was a bright, promising young man.
"Lots of things have been done including putting islands in the middle of the road but it doesn't seem to have slowed the traffic.
"It is a clear stretch of road and people drive down there quickly. Hopefully the installation of these cameras will make people slow down."
In the three years to June 2005, apart from the accident which led to William's death, there were six other serious accidents and 20 slight collisions.
William, of Cheyne Avenue, South Woodford, died on November 8, 2002, not long after he set out on his paper round on his bicycle.
He was fatally injured when his bike was hit by a Volkswagen Golf.
A council spokeswoman said: "The criteria for a speed camera are four or more killed or serious injury accidents coupled with excessive speed, and unfortunately Woodford Road meets these criteria."
The council has been lobbying Transport for London (TfL) for the cameras for some time, finally leading to their installation by the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) two weeks ago.
The new digital speed cameras transmit speeding offences direct from the camera to the police processing centre. They are able to film continuously, 24 hours a day, and flash when an offence is committed.
A spokeswoman for the LSCP said: "With seven serious or fatal accidents at this location the LSCP hopes that the new cameras in Woodford Road will deter speeding drivers and improve safety for both road users and local residents."
The LSCP has seen a 53 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites.
cstong@london.newsquest.co.uk
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