Speed limit reduced on road where boy, 11, killed

Evan Rothwell lit up the world around him, his family said

The speed limit on a road outside a school where a boy was killed is to be lowered after a review.

Evan Rothwell, 11, died in hospital days after being struck by a car outside The King's School on Wrexham Road, Chester, Cheshire, on 12 November.

His family led calls for the speed limit to be cut from 40mph "to prevent this from happening again" and a petition for it to be lowered gathered more than 14,000 signatures.

Cheshire West and Chester Council said it had decided to reduce the current speed limit outside of The King's School on Wrexham Road to 30mph following an independent review.

The council said the outcome of the independent review commissioned by the authority confirmed the current 40mph speed limit had been set appropriately and in accordance with national guidance provided by the Department for Transport, and that the design of the junction was adequate.

However, the council said having considered all the information and public opinion expressed through petitions and communications, it had "exercised its discretion" in implementing a lower speed limit from next month for "an initial period" of 18 months.

It added the review also highlighted a number of matters of concern relating to driver behaviour and congestion caused by traffic seeking to access The King's School.

The council said it continued to work closely with Cheshire Police and with the school to address those matters.

Cheshire Police has been contacted by the BBC.

Jessica Garner of the Make Wrexham Road Safe campaign told BBC Radio Merseyside the move was a "monumental achievement and a milestone for our campaign".

She added: "We are united in the common belief that children should be safe to travel to school and the strength of opinion has been significant as a contributing factor to [the council's] decision-making in lowering the speed limit."

'Prevent this from happening again'

A memorial service for Evan took place at St Werburgh's Church in Chester on 14 December.

The congregation wore Christmas hats, jumpers and antlers to remember Evan.

At the service, Evan's parents had reiterated their calls for the speed limit to be lowered "to prevent this from happening again".

Paying tribute to Evan, the family said he "made them proud every day".

They said: "Evan loved life and used his talents to entertain and bring joy to others.

The family added he "lit up the world around him".