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Lollipop Cutbacks Campaign: Join the campaign to save Peterborough lollipop patrols
ET has launched a campaign to save the citys lollipop men and ladies. Photo: Peterborough ET
PARENTS and headteachers angry over plans to replace lollipop ladies with volunteers have backed a new ET campaign to save the city’s crossing patrols.
A controversial proposal to cut back on lollipop men and women and replace them with trained volunteers was mooted in Peterborough City Council’s draft budget published yesterday, prompting a furious reaction.
Today the ET has launched an online petition to give our readers a chance to back the campaign - Lollipop Cutbacks Campaign - sign our petition to save school crossing patrols
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Parents outside Newark Hill Primary School, alongside the extremely busy Eastfield Road, have spoken out in support of keeping paid lollipop patrols, saying it is vital for the safety of their children.
Mani Karavadra (35), of Eye Road, whose 10-year-old son Devshi attends the school, said: “I sometimes wait in the car so he can walk across the road by himself and even with guards there some cars don’t stop, it’s dangerous.
“If they stopped the lollipop ladies then I’d have to accompany him every time.”
Nisha Hussain (36), whose five-year-old daughter Jenna attends the school, added: “It would be ridiculous to scrap them, they are absolutely essential to the school.”
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said: “Children want a little bit of independence and the lollipop ladies allow them that.
“I drop my son off at the corner and watch him cross with the help of the guards. If they weren’t there I’d have to go with him.”
Newark Hill headteacher Lorraine Mann says the school is organising a petition against the cut, which will bring the council a saving of £43,000 out of a budget of £370 million.
Cllr Peter Hiller, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and transport, said: “It is not a mandatory service and we do not provide it for every school in the authority’s area.
“We are not stopping the service, in fact we are encouraging the service by providing training and equipment for volunteers.
“It’s not a matter of us simply thrusting kids out into busy roads, it is quite a drain on resources.
“I agree it’s not a huge amount of money but it’s a culmination of these small expenses that add up to a large amount. I think it is a worthwhile service and we would like to see it continue, just under a different guise.”
City MP Stewart Jackson said: “I will back the ET’s campaign. This cut really concerns me and I urge the council to think again. They should look at different places they can save money, such as in the Citizen Power programme, translation costs or trade union posts.”
What do you think about the budget proposals?
Contact our news team by email news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, telephone 01733 588719, on Twitter - @peterboroughet or use our Have Your Say form
FACTFILE.. on the key budget points
l Council tax to rise by 2.95 per cent for the next five years, meaning an average band D property will go from £1,128 in 2012/13 to £1,267 in 2016/17, before reducing to 2.5 per cent increase thereafter.
l 70 jobs to be lost at Peterborough City Council. Staff to be asked by end of the month if they want voluntary redundancy.
l Investment of £73 million in new-build schools and expansions.
l Reserves will cover £2.5 million deficit at the end of 2012/13; £2.4 million surplus in 2013/14; £4 million deficit in 2014/15.
l Service cuts to include lollipop ladies, Christmas park and ride and speed camera funding.
l £10.6 million in efficiencies planned for 2012/13, including potential closure of the two local authority-run care homes.
l Huge pressure on adult social care means extra £10 million put into revenue budget to meet demand, Twenty-five extra social workers set to be taken on in children’s services to meet demand.
l Cash set aside to celebrate Olympic Torch ceremony, Diamond Jubilee, as well as revamps of Regional Pool and Lido.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Deejay2808
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 09:07 AMThere are as usual some very stupid comments on here. Lollypop people supply a needed service. If volunteers were to be used then there would be a severe inconsistency of the service. Readers need to sign the petition if they agree with the service and the 'fat cats of the council' need to look at their over inflated wages for the cuts as most of them do not earn what they receive.
SokeBoy
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 01:15 PMEvolve the concept of the traditional 'lollipop' patrol into a walking bus scheme where volunteers are paid for via a city-wide timebanking scheme. in this way, children can be escorted to school by appropriately trained adults and levels of traffic around our primary schools can be reduced. Easy!!!!! Now where's MY consultant's job, please? lol!
rogerandrew
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 02:30 PMCllr Peter Hiller, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and transport, said: “I agree it’s not a huge amount of money but it’s a culmination of these small expenses that add up to a large amount. I think it is a worthwhile service and we would like to see it continue, just under a different guise.” TYPICAL councillor,,takes all the pay,perks and rising expenses that he can get,but denies essential services to families..all of his and other councillor expenses also add up to a large amount,which should be stopped to pay the crossing staff..corrupt PCC
wamdue
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:45 AMVolunteers have no place at the council, it will further encourage job losses, and given the mass number of unemployed we simply can not afford that. Unless the volunteers are council management, then no one should volunteer. Same for people at Vivacity. I think any manager who asks the public to volunteer, should do his or her job as a volunteer. Soon see how keen they are.
*Lula Mae Barnes*
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 11:18 PMComment removed by moderator
LangtoftLou
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:25 PMI think people are missing the point here. Lollipop men & women have the authority to stop traffic; parents do not.
rebel woman
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:49 PMMaybe we could suggest that the councillors all do a week of lollipop duties and they may then have a real insight into the problems with removing them
Kevin
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:37 PMIf all those volunteers are councillors and council officers, and I mean volunteers not wrap the time as part of their working day we pay for, then why not. What better way for Neighbourhood Council chairmen and Neighbourhood managers to get to no the neighbourhoods?
lauraharbourhine
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 10:56 AM@13 Yes my daughter does only cross 1 road as i live just off Eastfield road in Reeves way and does have only one road to cross to get her there. i agree on smaller roads they may not be needed, but this road is a very busy main road, even with the lollipop ladies stopping cars some cyclists do not even stop as they go straight though.
lollipop
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:44 AMIts ok saying there should be no lollipop person on a zebra crossing but the traffic will not stop for you while waiting to cross parents at werrington school complained like crazy as they were waiting for cars to stop and they won't stop. people are rushing to drop kids off at school and trying to get to school on time people need to do this job to realize just how dangerous it is and very scarery. There are so much traffic, with cars lorries, buses, vans motor bikes, and also emergancy services with lights and sirens going you have to keep one eye on the children one on cars and listening for sirens if people think they can do that then try it for a week and lets see how many volunteer..........
rebel woman
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11:23 PMSome lolipop patrols are NOT needed. Where there is a traffic light controlled or zebra crossing why have someone to stand in the road. Teach the kids road safety and introduce a mandatory 20mph near schools. Some roads are dangerous so there they have a choice - install a proper crossing or keep the lolipop patrol. You are not telling me that a child that walks to school only has one road to cross
gogetit
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 06:36 PMfor god sake its peterborough not israel! hardly unsafe!
Zanni
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 05:00 PM@7 I agree about the comment about trade unions. What a stupid thing to say, Mr Jackson should know better by now, I was actually with him until then.
lauraharbourhine
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 03:04 PMWell some of us only have to cross that one road. I have a 5 year old daughter, walk her too school and back and still don't feel safe crossing that road. Unless you actually experience that road for yourself how can you understand how all us parents feel?
poshcoffeeco
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 12:56 PMThe Eastfield Road site is so busy outside Newark Hill School that they would need not one volunteer but two. Would you turn out in all weathers to stand and take abuse and take your life in your own hands for no remuneration, I don't think so. The road safety team have always struggled to recruit sufficient Crossing Patrols when they pay them so they are not going to get volunteers. The council should back down now and save face and stop making themselves look plonkers any more than they already do.
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