logo
Birmingham road where four-year-old girl died to be pedestrianised

Birmingham road where four-year-old girl died to be pedestrianised

BBC News18-07-2025
The parents of a four-year-old girl who was killed after being hit by a car have welcomed a commitment to pedestrianise a section of the road where she died.Mayar Yahia was knocked down in April 2024 on Upper Highgate Street, Birmingham, as she walked home from Eid celebrations with her mother and three siblings.She died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics. Two other people were hurt, including Mayar's mother Sara Salih.Her father Babiker Yahia said: "We have felt there has been a slow reaction to all these problems but it is changing for the better."
He added: "The driving attitude in Birmingham is completely different from the rest of the country and everybody knows. Why is this? That's the question they must answer."Following a local road safety campaign, led by the family, Birmingham City Council said it would fund a pedestrianisation scheme.It will prevent traffic from accessing a section of Upper Highgate Street near New Hope Community Park.The BBC understands preparations to start the work are already under way.
Hundreds of people, including members of the Sudanese community around the UK, attended the four-year-old's burial last year, leaving her family amazed by the outpouring of support they received."We are so grateful for the love we have been shown, especially from the children's school", said Ms Salih, who has recovered from serious leg injuries sustained in the collision."We are always talking amongst parents about road safety for our kids, and what we must do next. We don't feel comfortable because the road is busy across from the play park."
While showing us Mayar's school books and photographs, Ms Salih said she was desperately trying to keep her daughter's memory alive and she regularly shared stories of her with her three other children."She was so kind and loved her friends. She was always asking me 'how can I help Mum?' To cook, to clean. She was a good girl."In July 2024, people gathered for a minute's silence in Highgate and young children made banners and pictures as the road was temporarily closed off.The campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham joined them to call for urgent road safety measures amid a roads emergency being declared in the city.
Mr Yahia hopes that the pedestrianised area in Upper Highgate Street may come to be known locally as Mayar's Square."She was a lovely, clever girl and everyone in the area knew of Mayar, she was so friendly with people", Mr Yahia said.Birmingham City Council said it was working with the family and local community to "provide a fitting tribute to Mayar by creating a safer, more pleasant environment for everyone".Meanwhile, a man is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 July.Javonnie Tavener, 23, of no fixed address, has been charged with causing Mayar's death by careless driving, causing death while driving uninsured and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Homeware item recalled after causing almost $1 million worth of damages
Homeware item recalled after causing almost $1 million worth of damages

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Homeware item recalled after causing almost $1 million worth of damages

Over 600,000 Frigidaire mini fridges have been recalled due to a fire hazard caused by internal electrical components short-circuiting. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received at least 26 reports of the fridges smoking, sparking, burning, and catching fire. These incidents have led to two reported smoke inhalation injuries and over $700,000 in property damage. The recalled models, including EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149, and EFMIS175, were sold at Walmart and on Amazon between January 2020 and December 2023. Consumers should immediately stop using and dispose of the mini fridges, and can claim a refund of between $36 and $40.

Thousands of retained firefighters owed pension payments, union says
Thousands of retained firefighters owed pension payments, union says

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • BBC News

Thousands of retained firefighters owed pension payments, union says

More than 10,000 former retained firefighters across the UK are missing out on pension payments, according to a payments, which became available following recent legal rulings, could be worth anything from several thousand to more than £100, Fire and Rescue Services Association (FRSA) has urged anyone who might qualify to contact their old employers to ask if they are eligible and to get help about how to or on-call, firefighters are usually based in more rural locations and answer emergency calls alongside working a normal job. They never used to get a pension. However, two legal rulings in the past few years have changed that, meaning they are now entitled to anyone who served as a retained firefighter between two dates connected to those rulings - April 2000 and April 2006 - could qualify, and not just for a pension covering those six years, but for their entire must "buy back" (pay for) the pension contributions they would have made toward any pension scheme, but that bill can be taken off any final payment they're much money that is depends on factors such as the amount of time served, how busy their fire station was and what rank they attained. 'Great bonus to the household' Peter Duncombe spent 35 years serving as a retained firefighter in Buckinghamshire and qualified for a lump sum of about £10,000 plus ongoing monthly payments of around £180."This extra pension... is a great bonus toward the household," he said."Especially with the current issues with the cost of living increases, fuel rises and electricity going up. It's just excellent really. "The lump sum, which was a great bonus, we're actually going to use some of that for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday... and the remainder will go back into the kitty for maybe another holiday in another year." So far the FRSA estimates about 16,000 people have come forward to make a of them have received lump sum payments of tens of thousands of pounds, plus monthly payments going the union estimates at least 10,000 more are eligible but haven't yet put in a urging them to contact their former employer to find out how to put in a claim or message the union via its website to get help and advice.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: "It's essential our firefighters get the pensions they have earned as quickly as possible."Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for the administration of the pensions, and the government is supporting them to address issues raised by firefighters."A Local Government Association spokesperson said: "Some individuals have service that goes back as far as the 1960s and Fire and Rescue Authorities have been working tirelessly in trying to trace some individuals, to ensure that they do not miss out on this opportunity." After serving as a retained firefighter for nearly 30 years in Devon and Cornwall Paul Jarvis qualified for a lump sum payment of around £30,000 and ongoing monthly payments of nearly £200."This lump sum payment will improve my expectations and will mean that I can afford to retire nearly straightaway," he said."Then, going forward, it will boost my state pension... as well as giving me an extra monthly payment which, in these times, is a very, very useful payment."A spokesperson for the National Fire Chiefs Council, which represents fire and rescue service, said on-call firefighters play a "critical role" in the UK's emergency response and strongly encouraged anyone who thinks they may be eligible for payments to contact their pensions administrator.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store