Family calls for safety action at accident site

THE family of a schooboy who suffered life-threatening head injuries after being knocked over by a car on his way home from school are calling for better signs at the accident site.

Joseph Sell, 11, was on his way back from Nailsea School on Thursday and was crossing Stock Way North when he collided with a car.

Joseph, who only started secondary school two days before, had been crossing the road near Christ Church to catch a bus.

He was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary and then transferred to the neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital where he underwent a three-hour operation to relieve pressure on his brain.

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Despite having dozens of staples in his head as a result of the surgery, Joseph, of Wraxall, is making a good recovery and returned home on Wednesday night.

He now faces weeks of follow-up appointments and several weeks off school to recuperate.

Dad Dave, 33, an energy adviser, said: "Joseph is a lot brighter and up and about.

"The doctors are amazed by his recovery and shocked at how well he is doing.

"Because of where the pressure on the brain was, we do not know whether there will be any long-term damage.

"We will have to take every day as it comes."

Mr Sell, a father of two, is now calling for safety measures on Stock Way North to be reviewed.

He says the bus stops are used regularly by school children travelling home from Nailsea School to Wraxall and other areas including Flax Bourton and Long Ashton.

He says additional signs are needed to make drivers aware that the bus stops are used each day by dozens of children.

Mr Sell added: "The bus stops along Stock Way North need to be made more visible to motorists as often it seems as if the bus just stops in the middle of the road.

"I would also like to see some additional signage to advise motorists that these bus stops are used by schoolchildren each day.

"These bus stops are also used by many elderly people and young families.

"The road can be used as a rat run and I think it would be prudent for the council to investigate whether additional traffic calming measures are needed."

Joseph, who plays football for Nailsea Rangers, has received scores of get well cards from friends and family during his stay in hospital.

Joseph agreed with his dad and said: "I would like to see better signs put up by the bus stops too, just so motorists know that there may be children waiting for the bus or crossing the road.

"It has all been very frightening and although I am a bit sore, I am feeling better now."

There have been a number of accidents on Stock Way North over the past months including one where an elderly cyclist died after colliding with a car near the roundabout at the junction of Silver Street.

And on Friday morning a driver of a Volkswagon Golf was taken to hospital with shoulder injuries after a collision with a van on the same stretch of road. Fuel spilled on to the road as a result of the accident, causing traffic delays for an hour while the road was cleared of debris.

North Somerset Council spokesman Nick Yates said: "We will be getting the accident data from the police to see the exact circumstances, then see if there are any changes that are needed to the road layout."