An infamous road junction blamed for a crash that injured an eight-year-old boy is to get a safety upgrade after councillors completed a u-turn on "courtesy crossings".

Sutton Council is to install a second formal zebra crossing at site, part of the controversial £1.4m 'Heart of Hackbridge' scheme, following a campaign from concerned residents.

The project, completed in 2014, had been intended to make the area more attractive and accessible by introducing step-free access to shops and wider footways.

RELATED: Council u-turns over controversial Hackbridge road layout

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But road safety campaigners criticised the informal crossings at the junction of Hackbridge Road and London Road.

They warned the junction was confusing for motorists and pedestrains and claimed children and disabled pedestrians would be particularly at risk.

In October eight-year-old Max Vidal-Reed was knocked down by a car in London Road and visually-impared shoppers said they were scared to cross the “shared space.”

After the collision, Max’s mum Maria said people had been “saying for the last year and a half that it’s an accident waiting to happen”.

Following an independent audit, the council bowed to pressure and agreed to install formal crossing to improve safety last year.

On Thursday the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee voted to add a second zebra crossing.

Campaigner Tracey Collins said: “I’m happy that option was chosen as it brings another crossing into Hackbridge. These things take time and it’s fair that the consultation took place.

"I sounded off about this 19 months ago that this was not something that was going to work for people with impaired vision.

"If the council does want to put a new scheme in place in the future they should make sure that all disability groups are consulted, as in this case they were not."

The decision follows a consultation involving 319 respondents on design options for new crossings.

Hanna Zuchowska, councillor for Wandle Valley, said: “This has been a long journey for us and the residents.

"There has been an enormous amount of work done in the area; I think it has been transformed. 

"Yes, we didn’t get everything right the first time but the feedback has been extremely positive."

Coun Jill Whitehead, committee chair, said: “We have already introduced a new zebra crossing outside Hackbridge Primary School and now based on the results of our consultation we will create a second zebra crossing to the north of the Hackbridge junction.

"I want to thank everyone that took part in the consultation including Sutton Vision, residents in Hackbridge and the Metropolitan Police who have helped create the new designs."