A petition calling for pedestrian crossings on a road where a 16-year-old boy was killed by a car has been handed to Lewisham Council, backed by more than 500 residents. Theo Seward was injured on Manor Lane in Lee on July 9 and died in hospital on July 12. An 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and drug driving has been bailed.
Petition Presented at Full Council Meeting
During a full council meeting on July 22, Theo's parents were present as Cllr James Rathbone presented the petition. It calls for formal pedestrian crossings on Manor Lane between Southbrook Road and the South Circular. Cllr Rathbone said: "This stretch of road carries around 6,000 vehicles a day, including many heavy goods vehicles, but there are no formal crossing points to protect pedestrians. It is used on a daily basis by children travelling to schools, families and older residents."
Council Response and Commitment
Mayor of Lewisham, Liam Shrivastava, said he had raised Theo's death with Transport for London Commissioner Andy Lord and asked council officers to explore actions. He stated: "I want to be very clear that I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to make our streets safer and so that Theo's passing cannot be in vain. I know that I speak for every member in the council that this needs to be seen as a watershed moment for Lewisham. We must tackle this issue." He added: "The situation on our roads is simply not good enough. And I want to say how deeply sorry I am that the pace of change has not moved fast enough."
Fundraiser and Community Support
A fundraiser set up by Theo's former schools, St Winifred's Primary School and Bonus Pastor Catholic College, has raised almost £11,000. The fundraiser states: "Our St Winifred's and Bonus Pastor communities have been left heartbroken by the tragic loss of Theo Seward, a much-loved son, brother, grandson, friend and former pupil."
Police Investigation
Detective Sergeant Rob Harris, leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family following this heart-breaking incident. My team and I continue to work at pace to understand what happened." Police are appealing for witnesses, especially those with dashcam footage of a white Range Rover Evoque on Manor Lane on July 9. Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference 4919/9JUL or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
