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'School lollipop people need to return before tragedy strikes'

Nic Rigby
BBC Politics East
DJ McLaren/BBC Werrington Primary School mother Kerri Deboo standing near the road outside the school which used to have a school crossing patrol person workingDJ McLaren/BBC
Mum Kerri Deboo, who has children at Werrington Primary School, said the road was not safe for children to cross on their own

Parents have called on a council to reinstate school crossing patrols before a "tragedy strikes".

Peterborough City Council (PCC) cut the patrols (also known as lollipop people) near primary schools in Eye, Fletton, Newark Hill and Werrington in Cambridgeshire to help balance its budget.

However, parents want them brought back and in a petition, said their removal put "children's lives at risk".

Angus Ellis, cabinet member for environment and transport at PCC told the BBC it was one of the "difficult decisions" councillors had to make, and "20mph zones are in place" near the schools.

DJ McLaren/BBC Site of the zebra crossing in WerringtonDJ McLaren/BBC
Peterborough City Council said cutting the patrol crossing staff was a difficult decision taken to balance the budget

Mum Kerri Deboo, whose children attended Werrington Primary School, said she was "really concerned by the local authority's recent decision".

"There are lots of different vehicles... often at quite high speeds despite the fact there are signs for the crossing," she said.

"There is no way my children - aged four and seven - can cross this road safely on their own. I would never feel safe that the cars would stop here."

Parents at the schools protesting against the plans started a petition which said: "Let's not wait for a child to be injured or killed before we take action - we call on councillors to do it before tragedy strikes."

Ben Goldsborough MP (left), appearing on the sofa at BBC Politics East at The Forum in Norwich with presenter Amelia Reynolds (centre) and independent councillor Julia Ewart (right)
Ben Goldsborough MP (left) said lollipop people were the "glue that binds our small villages and towns together"

South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldborough said he had great support for lollipop people.

"Just opposite my constituency office, there is a brilliant one - Paul," he told BBC Politics East.

"They are not just about road safety, they are about community engagement and cohesion.

"They are the glue that binds our small villages and towns together."

East Suffolk independent councillor Julia Ewart said: "The lollipop people are guardians of schools.

"They make sure your children are getting there safely and they know children who aren't there, and that's important too."

Conservative South Northamptonshire MP Sarah Bool added: "We need to give much more attention to how we keep our communities safe and particularly our little children."

'Education for pupils'

Ellis said a "proposal to remove the school crossing patrol service at four schools in Peterborough was agreed as part of the council's budget for 2024-25".

"It is one of a number of difficult decisions councillors have had to make to be able to balance the budget," he added.

"Crossings and or speed restrictions such as 20mph zones are in place at each of the schools, and we are also providing road safety education for pupils."

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