The father of four-year-old Mayar Yahia, who was killed by a speeding driver in Birmingham, has expressed deep sadness after the city council shelved plans for a pedestrian zone in her memory. The project, known as Mayar Square, aimed to create a safe space for children and families on Upper Highgate Street, where the tragedy occurred.
Broken Promises and Disappointment
Babiker Yahia, Mayar's father, said the council's failure to act was 'very disappointing'. The scheme, which would have pedestrianised a stretch of the road to prevent motorists using it as a cut-through, was put on hold after objections from drivers. Road safety group Better Streets for Birmingham described the decision as 'very sad and disappointing', accusing the council of breaking a clear commitment.
Community Backing for Change
Local surveys showed that around half of families living near Upper Highgate Street do not own a car, and the road is used as a 'rat run' to avoid the A4540 ring road. Despite a 20mph speed limit, the area has seen numerous near misses since Mayar's death. In January 2025, the ward forum approved the pedestrianisation plan and allocated local funds. Successful trial days saw children playing and cycling on the closed street, but the council halted the project at the last minute in November 2025.
Activists Call for Action
Better Streets for Birmingham stated that 'errors' had allowed objections from outside the area to outweigh local support. They urged the council to 'finish the job' and create a peaceful street free from dangerous drivers. Filmmaker Sarah Chaundler, who documented Mayar's story in the film City of Cars, called the shelving a 'travesty', noting that two years after the tragedy, little has changed. She said the project would have been a 'bold and symbolic statement' that politicians value children's lives over motorist convenience.
The council confirmed the scheme will not proceed in the 2025-26 financial year and will be left for the next administration after local elections on May 7. Mayar's father, who worked closely with the council and activists, said: 'All we want is to ensure that no other child suffers. It is very sad that it has not gone ahead.'
