ALMOST 1,500 people have signed a petition to make changes to a major Oldbury island following the death of 11-year-old Rowley Regis boy Kyle Bastable.

The former Rowley Hall Primary School pupil – also known as Joe – was hit by a DPD lorry near the Shell garage at Birchley Island before 10pm on August 31, 2017.

A petition set up by Kyle’s mother Tammy in memory of her son is calling for a reduction in the speed limit at the island, as well as cameras and barriers to be installed.

In a message left on the online petition, Mrs Bastable said: “My son wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last unless changes are made.”

The change.org petition – which can then be submitted to Sandwell Council once the 1,500 mark has been reached – has received more than 1,440 signatures backing Mrs Bastable, who is also calling for railings to be installed on the footpaths of the junctions coming off the island.

To view the petition visit http://bit.ly/2CXt8nO.

An inquest into Kyle’s death took place at Black Country Magistrates Court on Monday (January 8), where it was heard that Kyle was crossing from the centre island to the central reservation of the A4123 Wolverhampton Road when he was hit by the lorry.

Police Constable Justin Williams, forensic collision investigator, said Kyle and a friend were making their way to Kyle’s mother who was at a friend’s house in Oldbury before the incident took place.

PC Williams said police interviewed the driver of the lorry at scene, who had seen Kyle’s friend riding his bike across the island and narrowly avoided him.

Two witnesses stopped at the scene to give statements, with the driver of a BMW saying he had noticed a child on the island and saw a lorry driving at normal speed. The BMW driver said the lorry had just missed the first child before hitting a second.

Dash-cam footage recovered from another car, which was not played in court, is said to show the incident occurring.

The court heard tachograph data collected from the lorry indicated the vehicle was travelling at 35mph in the 40mph zone and then decelerated to 22mph within five seconds.

The lorry then sharply decelerated to 17mph before coming to a halt.

PC Williams said the driver had reacted to the presence of Kyle’s friend crossing the island by decelerating before Kyle moved in front of the path of the LGV, with the PC saying it was “unlikely” the collision with Kyle could have been avoided.

The hearing was adjourned to a date later in January which has yet to be confirmed.

Following his death, Kyle was described by his former headteacher as a “real character” who showed “huge potential”, while floral tributes have remained at the scene since his passing.