WORRIED parents have warned children could be put at risk if crossing patrols are scraped at seven locations across the borough.
Nursery staff and teachers are backing parents who fear roads outside schools could become gridlocked if the traditional lollipop men and women are removed.
They claim the patrols manage traffic flow and enforce parking restrictions as well as teach pupils about road safety.
Schools affected by the plans – which are set to come into force at the end of the summer term – have launched a petition.
Annette Medhurst, chair of Meadow Nursery School on Murray Road said they were just 300 short of the 1,500 signatures needed to force Wokingham Borough Council to debate the proposals at a future council meeting.
“We are likely to lose our vital school crossing patroller at the end of the summer term,” she said.
“We are seriously concerned that her removal will lead to a best case scenario of traffic gridlock and worse case an accident involving a child.
“Our School Crossing Patroller does a fantastic job. She is a vital member of our school community who helps keep our children safe.
“She does far more than stop the traffic for pedestrians to cross the road. She manages traffic flow, enforces parking restrictions and teaching our children about road safety.”
The affected sites where crossing patrols are under threat include All Saints Primary School, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham; St Paul’s Junior and Walter Infant Schools, Murray Road, Wokingham; Keephatch Primary School, Keephatch Road, Wokingham; Willow Bank Infant and Junior School, Duffield Road Woodley; South Lake Primary School, Nightingale Road, Woodley; Woodley CE Primary School, Hurricane Way, Woodley; Polehampton Infant and Junior Schools, London Road Twyford.
Ms Medhurst added: “We are trying to raise awareness of our petition asking the council to keep the remaining SCPs across the borough. We currently have 1,200 paper signatures but want to hit the 1,500 signatories to trigger a council debate on the subject.
“If you haven’t managed to sign the petition asking the council to keep the school crossing patrollers please sign the ePetition before the deadline.”
Residents wishing to sign the petition can do so online through the Wokingham Borough Council.
The petition ran until Friday, June 1.
Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive member for highways Cllr Keith Baker said: “Back in March 2017 a full review of all the 15 school crossing patrollers was completed with a particular emphasis on eight locations that operated on a pedestrian crossing.
“The outcome of that review was that it was felt that the pedestrian crossing provided sufficient safety for crossing the road. Therefore the eight individuals that operated on these crossings were taken away.
“Also, in March 2017 notice was given that the seven locations without a pedestrian crossing would be the subject of a further review when the impact of the loss of those eight individuals, relying on the pedestrian crossing for a safe crossing could be evaluated.
“That impact review has now been completed and there has been no issues around the pedestrian crossing providing safe passage for school children.
“In fact, the crossing has provided a safe way for all pedestrians, including pupils and parents, of crossing the road. Furthermore, it has increased the safety for crossing these roads outside of school times.
“A further public consultation was carried out, on proposals to build permanent, 24-hour pedestrian crossings at the seven sites that currently have school crossing patrollers and the findings are being considered.”
