Britain’s worst school drop-off is so bad town hall chiefs have scrapped an advert for a new lollipop lady – because the job is too dangerous.
Parents are now demanding action to stop cars speeding past St Barnabas Church of England Primary School in Worcester after a string of near misses and collisions.
Before Christmas a young girl was struck by a car which resulted in her have a broken ankle while another pupil narrowly avoided being mown down two weeks ago.
The local council advertised for a crossing attendant but were forced to withdraw it after safety officers said the job was too risky.
The situation has become so dire that parents and councillors fear it is only a matter of time before a child is killed while crossing Green Lane.
Worcestershire County Council stated it could not employ a lollipop lady due to the ‘traffic situation’.
Speaking at a county council meeting on Tuesday (13/1), Cllr Paul Denham said: ‘Can I ask why it’s taken more than a year to replace the lollipop lady in St Barnabas?
‘Could it be because when the post was advertised last year, the advert had to be withdrawn because a risk assessment carried out by an officer of this council decided that it was not safe enough to employ a trained adult wearing a high-vis jacket and holding a lollipop because of the traffic situation?
‘She said the traffic was travelling too quickly and didn’t always stop. How can it possibly be safe then for children crossing the road?’
The school caters for 420 children aged between 4-11 and was rated ‘Good’ at its last Ofsted inspection last October.
Headteacher Sarah Hanson slammed the council ruling on withdrawing the lollipop lady ad, branding it ‘astonishing’.
She stormed: ‘I find it astonishing that the county council risk assessment found that it’s not safe for an adult to cross the road safely, yet they are quite happy to allow 420 children from the primary school to do so.
‘The plan to build a zebra crossing within the next year has been very vague.
‘We have waited for 13 months. We have already had two accidents which have had police involvement.
‘We had another near-miss with a child in Year 1, one week back after Christmas, in January.
‘The mum was taking her son across the road after school, a driver didn’t see them and nearly hit them. The parent didn’t go to the police.’
County councillor Matthew Jenkins added: ‘Because of the accident that happened with that young girl in December, it has been pushed up the priority list.
‘We are hoping it (the zebra crossing) will be done this year. It’s needed because there are two schools in the area and most of the people live on the other side of the road.’
Cllr Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for communities, said: ‘The longer term plan within the next year for St Barnabas is to have a zebra crossing installed.
‘This will mean that it is unlikely that the site will meet the criteria for a school crossing patrol.
‘Parents are reminded that they are responsible for their children’s safety at all times, and the council will work with schools to improve communication, and to take on board any concerns they have.’