Parents seek ‘lollipop person’ amid concern over busy road

Affectionately referred to as a ‘lollipop person’, the role of schools crossing patroller at Milverton Primary was secured and advertised in October - but so far Warwickshire County Council, which employs crossing patrollers across the county, has not been successful in filling it.

Now parents, who worked hard to persuade the council that a patroller was needed at the spot in Northumberland Road where pupils cross, are desperate to find someone to do the job.

Leonie Frazier, who takes her two sons James and Hugo from their home in Enright Close to the school and neighbouring pre-school Puddleducks every weekday, said: “When you are crossing the road, your heart is in your mouth and you are just hoping the drivers will stop.

“Sometimes drivers will stop on the roundabout to allow schoolchildren to cross, but you’re not supposed to do that.”

She added: “It isn’t just schoolchildren crossing there, but also pre-schoolers and parents with newborns, and the little ones all have school bags and lunch boxes to carry.

“At the moment we are relying on the goodwill of drivers who are commuting to work early in the morning. Not all of them are so kind.”

Mrs Frazier had at first requested that the county council build a pedestrian crossing but no suitable point on the road was found, so, after assessments on traffic and pedestrian flow were carried out, the council agreed to recruit for a crossing patroller.

As well as receiving the support of Milverton Primary’s headteacher Ben Wilde, Mrs Frazier’s campaign was backed by the nearby Trinity School’s headteacher Chris Gabbett and the Rev Christoper Wilson of Holy Trinity church, as well as county councillor Sarah Boad and Leamington town councillor Bill Gifford.

Bonnie Landsborough, the county council’s school crossing patrol supervisor, said working hours will be roughly 8.20am to 9.05am and 3pm to 3.45pm on school days and the starting pay is £6.83 per hour for a seven-and-a-half hour week. To apply, call her immediately on 412661 or email [email protected]