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Letter: The are alternatives to traditional lollipop patrols
I thought I would take the opportunity to propose a possible solution for this perplexing issue for our local leaders.
Cllr Seaton is right to question the need for our traditional lollipop patrols, especially with our ongoing economic problems. But the reaction of many local people is also entirely justified and understandable – why should the city council expect anyone to do this work for free?
Instead of the traditional lollipop patrol our city should encourage the growth of ‘walking bus’ schemes. These schemes have helped to cut the level of traffic outside many primary schools across the country. Children are escorted safely from their homes by volunteers who, in effect, act as neighbourhood-based lollipop patrols. Walking buses help to teach road safety skills, guide local children to school without the need for parental transport, cut pollution and parking offences and encourage exercise, therefore helping to reduce childhood obesity. I understand the connection many feel to the very British institution of lollipop patrols, but how many lollipop ladies are able to achieve all that?
But why should people work for free? Answer, they shouldn’t. If those running local bus schemes have their efforts rewarded via a community timebank it will allow them to gain something for their community-spirited work without the need for money to change hands. We all have some understanding of the problems that can bring with regard to the benefits and taxation systems. By ‘trading’ time those issues can be avoided, regardless of a walking bus volunteer’s financial status.
Instead of relying on the goodwill of an ever-dwindling number of public -spirited citizens, we must encourage the growth of a sustainable culture of community involvement and enterprise. This will help to make our city more sustainable in the long-term – in social, economic and environmental terms. We don’t see those leading our city putting themselves forward to work for no reward. So why should they expect the rest of us to do so?
Timebanking exists in the space where our Prime Minister’s desire to create a “big society” and our city’s noble environment capital aspiration overlap. It would be wonderful if our local decision-makers showed real leadership and innovation by developing both walking bus and timebanking schemes in our city. But the continued absence of both a coherent philosophy and cogent strategy to achieve our city’s stated aim would appear to indicate the likelihood of a different outcome.
Wayne Stimson
Peterborough
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
SokeBoy
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 02:00 PM@3: As lollipop patrols are now 'saved' your comment may have some truth to it. but timebanking is still very relevant. It is such a pity our city lacks the leadership to back timebanking, as they have often claimed.
Lazy Daisy
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 10:50 AMBack in the day when the lolly people were invented, most children walked to school alone or in small groups. These days the parents are mostly with them as your photos prove, showing many adults using the patrolled crossing. Perhaps it is time for a re-think.
J J Carter
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 07:05 PMThe 'walking bus' could be led by PCSOs as all they can do is wander about the streets. They could inform the children about policing and usefully keep the wayward boys from robbing.
Gorgeous George
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 03:40 PMIt looks inceasingly as though this idea of scrapping lollipop patrols has been set up in advance to allow the knight in shining armour namely Five Fingers Cereste to cover himself in glory by personally stepping in to save the world. If so, he should clearly be carried shoulder high through cheering crowds, but the question is, where to?
SokeBoy
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 01:34 PMI think the writer of the letter is merely trying to suggest an alternative that may be at least as safe as the present arrangements. Yes, there is no doubt PCC spends money like water on many different projects of questionable value. But if we take Cllr Seaton's reasons for questioning the need for lollipop ladies at face value then there are also possible alternatives. Maybe it is time to 'think outside the box' and develop new schemes.
aressee
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:38 AMWayne mate, you question the need to finance school crossing patrols by the city council in our current economic climate at a cost of around £43k. Explain or justify to me then why there is the need to spend £600k on Water Taxis? Are they more important than the lives of our children? Perhaps you can also explain why we have an almost £6million reserve in the bank if its not to preserve such services as school crossing patrols when additional funds are in short supply.
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