Forum Topic

School crossing patrol

Our lovely school lollipop man at Southfield has been made redundant,  due to cutbacks. I was shocked when I was told today. Sometimes cars don't even stop when he is there! Apparently Ealing council are only keeping them at crossings without islands in the middle of the road. Anyone else's school had the same happen?

Apple Leiper ● 4164d10 Comments

From what I can gather from recent after school discussions,  it would be the actual lollipop man doing the voluntary part. Not the parents.  Given that he was out there in all weathers, I think expecting anyone to do it on a voluntarybbasis is laughable.

Apple Leiper ● 4162d

So parents are expected to volunteer to do the lollipop duties on a roster and the council pays to insure them in case they guide a child into rather than around the wheels of an oncoming lorry.I wonder how long that would last.

Sara Nathan ● 4162d

Hi all,Over the past month or so I have been speaking to a parent who asked about this as well as the Council. The Council has stated sadly it will not re-employ school crossing patrollers, under the same conditions.However the good news (possibly) is that there is an option that might be workable where Southfield Primary School pursed what is called "the community base volunteer" then....The school would need to undertake a risk assessment and then the insurance would be covered by Ealing Council under the Volunteer insurance (employers liability).If something like this could be arranged it would help children crossing more safely.

Gary Malcolm ● 4163d

Thomas, as long as the Council continues to publish 'Around Ealing', hire political assistants for the Leader and more PAs for the Mayor,we will continue to question their priorities. Their staunchest supporters would admit that most of these cuts are intended to hit the poorest and most vulnerable residents, relying on people like you to blame the Government.

Maire Lowe ● 4163d

"The Council is Labour dominant and the cutbacks will have been made by them."The cuts they're making are because of central government funding being slashed - I know local Lib Dems aren't necessarily keen to associate themselves with their party's antics nationally, but they aren't exactly squeaky clean here.Back in 2010 when losing school crossing patrols was being pointed out as an inevitable consequence of the cuts to local government funding various lunatics* claimed that it would be OK because people would volunteer under the Big Society and anyway people preferred tax cuts to these wasteful public sector jobs and waaah deficits.* Conservative lunatics, of course, but the Liberal Democrats weren't forced to go along with them at gunpoint.

Thomas Barry ● 4163d

Thanks for that Angela. Ur a star

Apple Leiper ● 4163d

Apple, get in contact with your Ward Councillors (Southfields).  I don't know them all but know Gary Malcolm is a good man:Gary Malcolm:gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.ukMobile No.:07813 205 218Gary Busuttil:gary.busuttil@ealing.gov.ukMobile No.:07985443860Andrew Steed:andrew.steed@ealing.gov.ukMobile No.:07736 649 664I think they're all Lib Dems.  The Council is Labour dominant and the cutbacks will have been made by them.

Angela White ● 4164d

Really Sara? I've known the lady who patrols that crossing for years.  She also works in the school.Yes its due to Ealing council cutbacks Angela. Speaking to someone this afternoon it seems it was only patrols at crossings that had an island in the middle that have been made redundant.

Apple Leiper ● 4164d

East Acton primary was trying to recruit a lollipop person recently and couldn't because the pay - for a split shift - was laughable. Maybe yours could move there (For about £8 a day) there is another thread on here somewhere....

Sara Nathan ● 4164d

Is this cut back by Ealing Council? Who are your Councillors?

Angela White ● 4164d