A child was struck by a car on Suffolk Road in west Belfast, prompting fresh demands for road safety improvements outside the Glen Community Complex.

Police and emergency services responded to the collision at approximately 4pm on Monday. The incident involved a car and a child near the complex entrance. No suggestion of driver fault has been made, but the collision has focused attention on long-standing safety concerns.

Paul Niblock of the Glen Parent Youth Group said the incident was distressing and described it as predictable given the road conditions. He pointed out that double yellow lines were installed outside the complex last year but are not being enforced, and that he has never seen a traffic inspector there. The complex houses multiple after-school and daycare services, meaning children are present throughout the day, yet it lacks the 20mph signage commonly applied near schools. Mr Niblock said he had previously proposed several safety ideas to the Department for Infrastructure, all of which were rejected, and called on the department to urgently reassess the area.

Councillor Paul Doherty said this was the second serious incident involving a young person on Suffolk Road in a short period. He warned that the road is too dangerous and that immediate action is required to prevent a fatality. He confirmed that he has contacted the Department for Infrastructure to request an urgent site meeting to discuss traffic calming, pedestrian safety and speed reduction measures. In the interim, he urged motorists not to park on the double yellow lines in front of the complex, noting that illegally parked vehicles block sight lines and increase danger for families and children.

The PSNI confirmed officers attended the scene following a report of the collision and appealed for anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1231 of 06/07/26.