Lollipop lady to stay after campaign by parents

A lollipop lady will stay in post for at least another year after a campaign to stop a council cutting school crossing services.

Earlier this year, Peterborough City Council said plans to cut patrols at four primary schools - Old Fletton, Newark Hill, Eye and Werrington - had been agreed as part of the 2024-25 budget.

Lisa Bryan, who had been helping children cross the road outside Eye Church of England Primary for more than 26 years, will continue her job for the upcoming school year until a permanent crossing is installed, the city council confirmed.

The long term future of the crossings will be decided at a cabinet meeting next month.

Conservative councillor Steve Allen of Eye, Thorney and Newborough, said: "We hope that common sense will prevail."

Parents in Werrington have also been fighting to keep their lollipop lady - and more than 500 people have signed a petition in support of the campaign.

Kerri Deboo, a parent of a pupil at Werrington Primary School, previously said: "We're really worried about something happening to a child and feel there's been no robust decision making around it."

Angus Ellis, a Labour councillor and cabinet member for environment and transport at Peterborough City Council, said it was "one of a number of difficult decisions that needed to be made in order to balance the budget".

He added: "Crossings and/or speed restrictions such as at 20mph zones are in place at each of the schools and we are also providing road safety education for pupils."

A city council spokesperson said: "The other affected schools currently have crossings in place and we are also looking at introducing additional mitigation measures around Newark and Werrington Primary Schools."

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