Louis Thorold's father disappointed by plans to remove son's memorial

Louis Thorold pictured with his mother Rachael just hours before the crash in January 2021

The father of a five-month-old baby killed in a crash said he was disappointed about plans to remove a community memorial to his son.

Louis Thorold was hit on the pavement of the A10 near Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 22 January 2021.

Chris Thorold said Cambridgeshire County Council had told him they planned to take down a memorial "citing issues around road safety".

The council said it wanted to work towards a new "safer" location.

Louis Thorold was born at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge in August 2020

Louis was being walked in his pram by his mother Rachael near Waterbeach when car driver, Shelagh Robertson, turned into the path of an oncoming van, forcing it on to the pavement and hitting the pair.

Louis was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital while his mother spent 10 days in a coma and 118 days in hospital.

Mrs Robertson, whose lawyers argued she had undiagnosed dementia at the time, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of causing Louis's death by careless driving.

The memorial was set up on Car Dyke Road, Waterbeach

The memorial was put up on Car Dyke Road by the local community and a petition has been launched after the council announced its plans to remove it.

Mr Thorold said: "We were made aware over the weekend that the beautiful tribute to Louis by the local community in Waterbeach is scheduled to be removed citing issues around road safety.

"It is incredibly disappointing that, whilst we have received great support from the local council in changing the A10 and the implementation of 20mph (32km/h) as the default urban speed limit, that they are prioritising the removal of memorials for those lost rather than making our roads safer.

"I think most people will accept this is a sad reflection of how our taxes are prioritised by our local councillors and the local council.

"If we've reached the point in road safety where some flowers are the most pressing issue to be addressed we wouldn't see 1,800 people die each year and 30,000 be seriously injured."

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: "We understand how sensitive roadside memorials can be for those who want to pay their respects.

"Following concerns raised about the safety risks associated with the memorial to Louis Thorold, we've been trying to make contact with the people who made it.

"We would like to work with them and the family to discuss the memorial and the potential for a new location, which could offer a safer place for people to reflect and remember Louis."

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