Lollipop man not replaced after seven months (From The Oxford Times)

Lollipop man not replaced after seven months

1:02pm Monday 24th May 2010

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A LOLLIPOP man who quit his job seven months ago after claiming he feared for his safety has still not been replaced.

Grandfather Pat Abbott, 65, handed in his notice to Oxfordshire County Council after he was almost run over in October and said it was the latest in a string of near-misses.

Since then no-one has been appointed to patrol the junction of Oxford Road and Cherwell Drive, in Marston, Oxford, which is used by hundreds of children on their way to St Nicholas and the Cherwell Schools.

The news comes as figures obtained by the Oxford Mail under the Freedom of Information Act show the number of lollipop men and women employed by the council has fallen from 68 to 59 since 2005.

The council points out there is a national problem in recruiting lollipop men and women – and says it is still on the lookout for a new recruit at Marston.

Renata Lanzoni, who uses the junction each day with children Julie, eight, and Karen, seven, has been campaigning for a crossing for several years.

The mother-of-four said: “I am very disappointed to see these figures – the council is not doing enough to ensure road safety near schools.

“We are talking about people’s lives here.”

The council said there had been no accidents at the site since the late 1970s.

But Mrs Lanzoni, of Beechey Avenue, accused councillors of waiting for a child to die before action is taken.

She said: “I keep hearing this excuse, but it just means they are willing to let somebody be killed until they do something.

“We have heard first hand from Mr Abbott about how dangerous the area is. He is a strapping man but was forced to resign for his own safety.

“I am absolutely disgusted that the council is not willing to do anything to create a safer road crossing there.”

She added: “We’re not asking for much. We would prefer a new crossing but, if that’s not possible, a lollipop person with their visible presence would still make a difference.

“Speed bumps are another way we could slow down drivers and make them realise children are crossing that stretch of road. Something needs to be done.”

Council spokesman Louise Mendonca said: “The county council is very keen to hear from anyone who wishes to be a lollipop man or woman. There is a national problem with recruitment to such posts.”

She added: “There have been no reported accidents resulting in injury to pedestrians at the junction since our records began in the late 1970s.”

In October, 6ft 6in-tall Mr Abbott, of Rock Edge, Headington, told the Oxford Mail he thought a child would have to die before any changes were made.

He said: “I was almost hit by a car, because the driver hadn’t seen me. I have also been clipped by vehicles.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk

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