THE Gazette is launching a campaign to Make School Road safer.

Tiana Page, eight, is was hit and crushed by a car outside Monkwick Junior School in Colchester.

She spent weeks in hospital with horrific injuries but is on the road to recovery.

School Road serves is used by 1,000 pupils a day attending Monkwick Junior, Monkwick Infants and Thomas Lord Audley schools.

We are backing a petition to Essex County Council to make the road safer.

We are calling for: * Railings to be installed near Monkwick Junior School * Zig zag markings to be painted the length of School Road * Parking restrictions to be extended from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Dave Harris and Kim Naish, borough councillors for the Monkwick estate, have been working with the schools to try and find a solution to the problem since the accident on December 15.

More than 650 residents have signed a petition for change and the headteachers at all three schools have written to Essex County Council to request a meeting.

Now Tiana’s family and The Gazette are stepping up the campaign to get the road changed now.

Martin McNeill, Gazette editor, said: “Changes need to be made before someone else is hurt.

“We are urging Essex County Council’s highways department to listen to the pupils and parents, residents and teachers who all agree the road is dangerous.

“We applaud Tiana and her family for having the bravery to come out and speak about the ordeal they suffered and we want to do what we can to make the area safe for everyone to use.”

Jonathan Tippett, headteacher at Thomas Lord Audley School, said: “Road safety in the vicinty of our school has been a concern for some time and now there is a consensus to do something about it.

“We support the campaign and ask you to as well.”

Mark Walter, headteacher at Monkwick Junior School, said: “School Road was a service road and is not fit for purpose.

“We had a school governors’ meeting this week and everyone agreed to support the campaign.

“We need to take the pressure away from here.”

Tracey Chapman, councillor responsible for highways, said Essex County Council takes the safety of school children very seriously the site will be reviewed to determine whether new measures would be put in place.

In the longer term campaigners want a school crossing patrol to be reinstated in Monkwick Avenue and a car park and footpath in Queen Elizabeth Way to take the strain off School Road.

* To sign the petition visit gazette-news.co.uk or e-mail your name and address to gazette.newsdesk@nqe.com Alternatively, sign the petition at Blackheath Post Office or Keyshaws shop.