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Petition calls for bridge over A256 Whitfield Hill in Dover following death of Mya Lawrence

By: Alan Smith ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 06 January 2022

Updated: 15:35, 06 January 2022

The mother of a teenage girl killed while crossing the road has started an online petition calling on Dover council to improve pedestrian crossing facilities.

Mya Lawrence, 13, died last October after being hit by a car as she crossed the A256 Whitfield Hill near the roundabout junction with the A2 in Dover.

Mya Lawrence. Picture courtesy of Dawn Hopkins

She had been making her way back from a trip to McDonald's.

Now mum Dawn Hopkins has started a petition that hit its initial target of 200 signatures in just two days.

In it she calls on the authorities to establish "an easier way to cross the roads at Whitfield" and suggests a footbridge over the carriageway.

mpu1

Miss Hopkins explains this is so people don't have to use the area's dark underpass between Honeywood Road and Archers Court Road.

She believes it would particularly help children going to and from school and the elderly trying to reach shops.

Flowers in memory of Mya at the scene of the tragedy

She told KentOnline: "The subway is horrible at night, it's a mess and it floods and they don't de-ice it.

"Lots of kids and parents use it to go to the Whitfield Aspen primary school, also kids go to Mya's, school (Dover Christ Church Academy). Lots of elderly people use it for shops, the Post Office, café, walks and so on."

Mya's accident occurred at 7.40pm on Friday, October 15.

The driver of the car who struck her was not charged with any offence.

Since the accident, the highway authorities have cut back some trees in the area and added extra lighting to improve visibility, but Mrs Hopkins feels this is not enough.

Mya Lawrence

She said: "There are still a lot of accidents at this roundabout. More needs to be done."

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Miss Hopkins, who works at B&M Stores, also has a six-year-old daughter.

She also said: "Mya was known to be a sassy, bright girl who always helped everyone. "

At the time of Mya's death, an online appeal was set up by her aunt Paula Hopkins in Mya's memory and to help the family cover funeral costs. It raised more than £3,000.

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Dover Christ Church principal Jamie MacLean said Mya was an “outstanding student” and a “vivacious young lady”.

An inquest into Mya's death opened on October 29 at County Hall in Maidstone.

A coroner was told she died of a head injury at the scene of the collision.

The inquest was adjourned until April 4 and will be held at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone.

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