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school-child aged five years, who was knocked down and run over
by a motor lorry on January 2nd, in Old Kent Road near its
junction with Marlborough Road, the Jury, in returning a verdict
of accidental death, added the following rider which they requested
him to forward to the Council:—
(a) We (Jury) are unanimously of opinion that the two parallel street refuges,
one on each side of the double set of tram-lines in the Old Kent Road, between
the Camberwell Baths and the Lord Wellington P.H., are obstructive and a
standing danger to the users of the Old Kent Road, and that such refuges should
forthwith be removed.
(b) That reasonable and proper means for the crossing by pedestrians of the
Old Kent Road should be provided, since at present, the only provision made
throughout the whole length of the Old Kent Road, approximately 1½ miles, are
seven refuges situated as follows:—
2 at Bricklayers Arms, at junction of the Old and New Kent Roads.
1 at Leroy Street.
1 at Charlotte Street.
1 at Trafalgar Road; and
2 at Marlborough Road (the protecting posts of which have been knocked
down from time to time by the passing traffic for which a space of
only 11 ft. 9 ins. from each refuge to kerb is allowed).
(c) That only three police constables on fixed point duty are supplied to regulate
the traffic and assist children and others safely across the whole length of Old
Kent Road, two of such constables being at the Bricklayers Arms and one at
Upper Grange Road.
The Committee submitted for the information of the Council, the
following resume of decisions made by the Council upon this
matter:—
Old Kent Road. Refuges Opposite Public Baths.
Decisions of Council.
June 25th, 1919. It was reported to the Council that the Jury at an inquest on
a child who was killed in Old Kent Road opposite the public baths, added a
unanimous rider to their verdict that more refuges were required in Old
Kent Road, and particularly by Marlborough Road.
The Council passed a resolution that it was not practicable to construct
refuges as suggested by the Jury owing to the position of the tram track.
April 21st, 1920. The Council considered a report that at an inquest held on a
boy who was killed by a motor omnibus, the Jury passed a unanimous rider
to their verdict, that a street refuge should be placed opposite Marlborough
Road.
The Council decided that "Caution" Standards should be erected in the
vicinity and informed the London County Council that it was absolutely
necessary for a street refuge to be erected in the centre of Old Kent Road.
November 9th, 1920. The Council resolved that two permanent refuges should
be placed at this point.
From the date of the erection of these refuges until 1925, the matter was
considered on several occasions owing to representations made to them by
the Ministry of Transport supported by the Police, asking for the removal of
the refuges.
December 5th, 1925. A Sub-Committee was appointed to consider the question
of the removal of the refuges.
January 13th, 1926. The report of the Sub-Committee was submitted to the
Council, and the Council agreed to certain alterations in the size of the refuges.
They also decided to approach the London County Council and ask on what