Couple appeals for speed humps after four cats killed (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Morden couple Steven and Stella St Lawrence appeals for speed humps after four cats killed

11:10am Friday 15th February 2013 in News By Lauren May, Chief Reporter

Morden couple Steven and Stella St Lawrence appeals for speed humps after four cats killed

A couple is demanding speed bumps along their road after four of their cats were killed in just two years. 

Steven and Stella St Lawrence moved to Central Road, Morden three years ago with their beloved brood of 10 cats.

Within a year their first cat Cassie was killed by a passing motorist.

Then, in the summer of 2012, a second cat Charlie was killed, followed by Persian cat Zeus in October, and finally Minstrel who was killed four weeks ago.

Mrs St Lawrence said: “How many more tears will my husband and I shed?

"We are the ones that have to carry on knowing our pets have been taken from us.

"They have not stood a chance.

“If this was children or adults being run over there would be uproar – what’s the difference?”
Central Road, the A239, has a 30mph speed limit and has chicanes installed to narrow the road outside Abbotsbury Primary School.

Mr St Lawrence admitted they had not realised the road would be as busy as it is when they first moved and said he often sees motorists speeding down the stretch of road between the former Morden Tavern and the roundabout.

He said: “I’d like to see something done.

“But they are never going to put speed bumps there because of the emergency vehicles that need to get up here.

“I get annoyed when people knock cats down and just carry on.

“They don’t realise we have to pick up the pieces afterwards.

“They are like children to us.”

Merton Council cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration Councillor Andrew Judge said: “We take road safety very seriously, which is reflected in our solid road safety record, but we have to prioritise where traffic calming measures are installed. 

“We also need to consider that Central Road is one of the main routes used by the emergency services and that any features introduced does not cause any other difficulties for the residents.”