Parents fight to save threatened lollipop patrol

Parents have begun a campaign to save the job of a lollipop crossing patrol, threatened as a council considers cost-saving measures.

Martin Hewitt has been helping parents and children cross Wimborne Road in Moordown, Bournemouth for 13 years.

Parents have said removing him would endanger children's safety and a petition to retain him has gathered more than 1,000 signatures.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has said no decisions have yet been taken on which crossing patrols will be axed as part of a review.

Children from at least five local schools use the Wimborne Road crossing daily.

Hewitt desecribed the road as "very busy" and said he had once been hit by a car while helping children cross.

"And obviously with the rush hour, it's hectic. And when it's raining it's even worse, and they don't stick to 20 mph".

"I do get sworn at quite a lot. Drivers, when I'm in the road, they go around me."

Amy Watt who has two children at Winton Primary, set up the petition to save the crossing patrol.

"His role goes way beyond just keeping our children safe.

"He's a happy person to start the day with - he's constantly keeping a lookout for dangers, and we want BCP to reconsider their proposals".

Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes launched a survey to feedback residents' views to the council.

"The message is clear. People overwhelmingly want to keep their lollipop ladies and their lollipop men, because they're a familiar face at the school gates for their kid.

"They spot danger so that it can't happen, and they're the glue that holds together our communities.

"And I think when the council are presented with this message, they can't but have any alternative response, which is to say, we will keep the lollipop ladies and lollipop men across Bournemouth".

BCP Council has not ruled out cutting crossing guards outside schools and replacing them with zebra crossings as part of a long-term programme of upgrades to improve road safety.

It is evaluating which sites may be suitable for permanent crossing facilities in the future.

Richard Herrett, cabinet member with responsibility for road safety, said: "The safety of children as they walk and wheel to school is our priority, and we have not made any decisions on individual school crossing patrol officers.

"Any future changes would only follow detailed site assessments and formal road safety checks, and existing patrol officers will remain in place until locations are ready to be assessed and, where appropriate, upgraded," he added.

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