Twelve-year-old Amalie Harris has devoted over two years to campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on a busy and hazardous road near her former primary school in Leckhampton, Cheltenham. Now, thanks to her tireless efforts and community support, the crossing may soon become a reality.
At just nine years old, Amalie first raised concerns about crossing the busy junction of Church Road and Hall Road outside Leckhampton CofE Primary School. Feeling frightened to cross alone, she initiated a petition to make the area safer for children and residents.
Amalie and her father Paul have worked relentlessly, gathering signatures and engaging with local officials. Amalie even presented her case at Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet meeting in Gloucester. Their efforts secured £68,000 in funding from Leckhampton Parish Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, and Gloucestershire County Council—covering 90% of the £75,000 project cost.
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To bridge the remaining £7,000 needed, they launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over £4,000. With just £3,000 left, the family hopes for the final push to complete funding.
Now a student at Leckhampton High School, Amalie expresses pride and optimism: “I’m really happy with how it’s going. People have tried before but didn’t get this far. I’ll be proud when the crossing is finally installed.”
Her initial motivation came after a letter home asking if pupils could walk alone, which made her realize how unsafe she felt crossing Church Road. This sparked her petition, and she was recognized with a Gold badge through her primary school’s Agents of Change programme for her community contribution.
Paul Harris praises his daughter’s determination: “What she’s accomplished is remarkable. It shows how much can be achieved by staying focused and working with the right people. This crossing will benefit everyone in the community, especially children walking to school.”
He also acknowledged the strong support from multiple councils and described the fundraising progress as “brilliant,” though donations have recently slowed. “We’re confident we’ll reach the goal because this is the only way the crossing will happen.”
Councillor Martin Horwood, who serves on the parish, borough, and county councils, lauded Amalie as “a brilliant figurehead” for the campaign. He highlighted her active involvement attending meetings and leading the community effort alongside Paul.
“This junction is a vital route for students from both primary and high schools. With traffic increasing, it’s more important than ever to ensure safety. While accidents have been fortunately rare so far, a crossing is needed to prevent future incidents.”
The campaign stands as a testament to community spirit and youth leadership, promising to make a meaningful difference for Leckhampton residents and young pedestrians.