Village residents asked for traffic calming measures on street where 8-year-old killed while riding her bike

Residents of a street in a village near Glasgow where an eight year old girl was killed in a collision with a bus yesterday have spoken of how their calls for the local authority to introduce traffic calming measures had gone unheeded.

Amber Cameron died at the scene of the incident, which took place at 10.55 yesterday morning in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, close to Paisley and two miles southwest of Glasgow Airport. She was off school as a result of the Jubilee bank holiday.

Herald Scotland reports that the fatal collision, which involved a single decker bus, happened after Amber had ridden down a narrow pathway to Barclay Avenue.

One witness told the website: "I heard a thump and a screech of metal and I jumped up to the window.

"The wee girl was lying on the road. The driver had got out but I knew she was gone. Her bike was under the bus."

Herald Scotland added that there are a number of families living on the street who have young children, and that the council has been repeatedly requested to put in place traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, but nothing has been done to date.

One neighbour, Elizabeth Harkins, explained: "There are streets close by that have speed bumps but there is nothing here. There have been other accidents."

Another resident said: "The road can be bad at times. It's supposed to be a 'twenty's plenty', but drivers don't always stick to that. Now and again when they get a clear run at it they'll go a bit faster."

Amber’s parents Duncan and Michelle were reported to be too upset to make a comment yesterday.

One local said: "We just missed the accident. We went for a walk and when we came back we saw all the police and the ambulance.

"The police were going round the streets trying to find the girl's parents. It's shocking that something like this has happened right on our doorstep. I really feel for the girl's parents."

Quoted in The Scotsman, Susan Carlton, the head teacher at Amber’s school, Wallace Primary School, said: “This has been a very sad day for the school. Amber was a lovely little girl who loved learning and thrived in all school activities, particularly arts which she especially liked.

“She was very popular with classmates and will be sadly missed. We have been helping pupils talk and react in their own way and further support and counselling is available if required.

“The thoughts of the whole school community are with Amber’s family. At an appropriate time, and with the agreement of Amber’s family, we will look to commemorate the time Amber had with us and the contribution she made to the life of the school.”

Strathclyde Police said that a report on the incident would be lodged with the Procurator Fiscal and that it was continuing with its inquiries.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is requested to call Sergeant Jane Taylor at the Divisional Road Policing Unit in Greenock on 01475 492537, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.