Becky Bailey stepped when her children’s school’s lollypop lady stood down. But she’s been admonished by her local council
A mother-of-three who started helping schoolchildren across the road after their lollipop lady retired has been told to stop what she’s doing by her local council.
Becky Bailey stepped in when the woman who kept an eye on youngsters outside Biddick Hall Junior School in South Shields hung up her high-viz jacket.
But rather than praise her actions, officials from South Tyneside Council have told her to stand down because she has not been given the training of a ‘designated school crossing patrol’.
Ms Bailey, 31, insists she avoids stopping cars, only stewarding schoolchildren over the road during breaks in the traffic.
She said: ‘After the previous lollipop lady retired, we had a temporary patrol but they have gone.
‘I have three children at this school and the traffic here is horrendous on a morning and a teatime. There needs to be a lollipop person here.
‘It’s dangerous and unfortunately there are some parents who are not helping by parking where the kids are crossing which blocks the view of the road.’
She insists she helps children cross during breaks in the traffic and stops parents’ bad parking
She added: ‘I’ve been doing this since the beginning of the week and I have had some abuse from parents over their parking.
‘I’ve been told by the council I shouldn’t be doing it but I’m going to keep on until we get someone to help the kids cross the road.’
Kevin Cunnington, whose eight-year-old son Kye goes to the school, added: ‘I think it’s amazing what she is doing. I know Becky and she is a lovely lass, really community spirited.
‘The road at drop off and pick up time can be dangerous. Parents parked up on the keep clear signs and buses trying to get through.’
South Tyneside Council insist they are trying to bring in a new lollypop lady, or man, and have urged parents not to flouting parking rules.
Ms Bailey insists the road is too dangerous to allow children to cross unsupervised
A spokesman for the local authority said: ‘Apart from the police, only designated and trained school crossing patrols have the authority to stop traffic.
‘It is extremely dangerous for members of the public to try and stop moving traffic.
‘We would advise people to follow the green cross code, wait for a safe gap in the traffic and ensure that they do not cross in between parked cars.’
Councillor Moira Smith, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety at South Tyneside Council added: ‘We recognise that inappropriate parking at schools can become an issue at drop-off and pick-up times.
‘We would urge parents to park in a responsible manner and to be aware of the disruption that inconsiderate parking can cause.
‘We will continue to monitor the situation and will take action against those found to be in breach of the parking restrictions.’