LOLLIPOP ladies could soon be a thing of the past if a proposal is passed by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC).
The council announced today (Wednesday) that proposals to cease crossing patrols in eight locations around the borough are currently being discussed.
The reasoning behind the cut is that the patrols are located on pedestrian crossings, which already give children and others a safe point to cross.
A further seven sites with school crossing patrols but no formal crossings are exempt from the proposed changes this year, but the plan is to review them to assess the best ways to ensure children continue to get to school safely.
It is proposed the school crossing patrol service at these eight locations should cease at the end of this academic year (July 2017).
The affected sites are: Emmbrook Infant & Junior School, Highwood Primary School, Coombes Primary School, St Peters Primary School, Whiteknights Primary School, Beechwood Primary, Hawthorns Primary School, and Sonning Primary School. These schools have been notified and they, and their affected parents / guardians, have been invited to comment on the proposals.
Cllr Malcolm Richards, executive member for highways and transport, said: “Ensuring children can get to school safely is of fundamental importance to us.
“But these eight sites already have pedestrian crossings giving a safe point to cross.
“Local authorities nationally are facing difficult decisions and Wokingham Borough Council is one of the last councils in the country to look at its school crossing patrol service.
“Also from this October we hope to start civil parking enforcement across the borough, which will help us improve traffic management outside schools.”
A consultation on these proposed changes finishes by the end of Wednesday April 19. Schools, parents and guardians affected by the proposals can take part by emailing comments to: communityengagement@wokingham.gov.uk.
