An alien might ask “what on Earth are Croydon Council doing?” when considering why 10 lollipop patrols are being scrapped. Must a child be hurt (and the council sued at considerable cost) before this ill-conceived decision is reversed?

For Woodside Primary School parents and children, it is a double whammy; we are losing two patrols. But let us consider what these ladies do.

Two weeks ago a team of parent volunteers counted the number of children (accompanied and unaccompanied), adults, pushchairs, bicycles, scooters, mobility vehicles, cars, HGVs and buses at each zebra crossing.

The Morland Road crossing is so busy it takes two to do the twice-daily count; sometimes 20+ people crossed at once. In 24 minutes, Eve – who knows most parents and children, always smiles and thanks each vehicle – crossed nearly 500 people and controlled traffic flow.

We now have a week’s data on two crossings gathered daily by three people; the council’s risk assessment used just one person to count both crossings on one day – hardly accurate when six days’ data are required.

Apparently the council believes any child who can press a button can safely cross alone. My children have been able to do so since they started walking aged 1, but expecting them to safely cross unaccompanied is flawed logic; Social Services would quite rightly take them away from me! When children come out of school, they are frequently in high spirits and distracted.

Coupled with impatient and some downright dangerous drivers (including the scooter-riding traffic warden who nearly didn’t stop one day during our count) and this is an accident waiting to happen….hence the need for fluorescent jacket, hat and large stick!

These ladies earn £4400 annually to keep our children safe - so small it is below the tax threshold (personal allowance). 10 patrols = £44k (presumably a £16k admin. post will go too).

Come rain or shine, hail or heatwave, these men and women do it for love, not money. We have fought this decision at every step, gathering an impressive 1000 signature petition (from a school of 944 children), conducting 10 crossing counts, spoken to and posed for hours for local papers.

Despite reports in some media, this is not a political or even a financial decision; it is a matter of safety – children’s lives. Given the huge efforts of the school community to fight this, I wonder what more it will take for local democracy to scrap this crazy decision.

Two years ago at St Luke’s Church (Spring Lane) an impatient driver mounted the pavement and hit my niece; luckily she suffered only minor scrapes and bruises, yet no improvements have been made to this junction – no zebra or pelican crossing, just an island.

So I ask again, what will it take to keep these vital lollipop patrols?

Tracey Hague
Parents Association of Woodside School