Following the death of her son Neil Turner on Mitcham Road in Croydon, Mrs Beryl Turner has written a letter to the following people:
- Jon Rouse, Chief Execute of Croydon Council
- Councillor Mike Fisher, Leader of the Council
- Steve O’Connell, GLA member for Croydon and Sutton
The letter reads as follows:
RE: My Son Neil McDonald Turner
Dear Sir,
On the 10th July at 5-10am in the morning my son was cycling to work to Morden Underground Station to drive his train. He was knocked off his bike and died at the scene. We were very lucky the driver did stop.
The cyclists of Croydon have been wanting something done with this road for many years. Myself and my husband and son and his partner have been there to look and as the cyclists say it is a death trap. Please will you take a look at Mitcham Road. You get the pavement, then parked cars then a bit of a so-called bike lane with no thick white line on it at all. The bikes could be knocked over by the parked cars if they open their doors to get out or the bikes have to go in the car lane. All the bikes are at risk along there. They are doing as Boris is asking, cycling for London at their own peril. It is so dangerous for them all.
The Croydon Cyclists club and the ladies from road peace had a memorial service for him and ourselves. A ghost bike was donated by Maurice Burton and they all took time out to come for my darling son, and I thank them all for that.
I don’t want any more mothers and fathers and family to go through what we are going through right now. He was on his way to work to do what he loved to do, drive his train. His work friends are devastated and everyone who knew him, as he was such a nice person to know. I have written to Boris asking for a bench for my garden that he loved so much and anyone who wants to sit here can. Thank you for your time reading this letter, please, please do something.
Miss B J Turner
[sic]
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