REBEL councillor Kevin Bennett has given notice that he is to ask a question over a “missing” lollipop person at the next meeting of Warrington Borough Council.
Cllr Bennett, the former Labour councillor who now represents the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) says there will be no school crossing attendant in Marsh House Lane, Warrington until October 13 – and believes this to be wrong.
His question will be: “Why does this council have no strategy to cover for any lollipop persons who are absent due to holidays or sickness, or is it just Fairfield and Howley that has to suffer this?
“Surely the safety of our children and their families is a priority?”
Cllr Bennett said: “This busy road will be left without a lollipop person and therefore a safe crossing for the children and their families in this area.
“The council has told me they have recruited a new lollipop person, but for various reason she cannot start her duties until October 13.
“That will be nearly six weeks without a road patrol, and they also said that they had no statutory duty to ‘provide school crossing patrols’. “Also ‘the council do not currently operate any cover or relief system for absent patrols and it is the responsibility of the parents/carers to get a child to school safely’.
“Whilst I appreciate that parents and carers have a responsibility, surely the council should supply a safe environment to help with this, after all we are the ‘Corporate Parents’ of the borough.
“Having spoken to residents, they are very upset about this problem and asked me to try and explain the problems they have.
“Imagine a grandmother who is helping their child by taking the children to school, struggling with three young children trying to cross a busy main road. In this situation a lollipop person is a ‘god send’. I believe that this is an essential service and Warrington Borough Council needs to review their system and cover any absent road patrols in the future”.
Councillor hits out over “missing” lollipop person
00 Comments
