Lollipop patrol shortage fears

12:16pm Sunday 11th May 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

THOUSANDS of young children in York are having to cross dangerous, busy roads to get to school, due to a continued shortage of lollipop men and women.

Fifteen of the city's intended crossing patrol points are now unmanned, and 12 primary schools that should have a patrol no longer do. Their combined rolls total 3,173 children.

A new report to opposition councillors says people do not want to take on the jobs due to low pay, the split shift, and a fear of abuse - and because they don't like the uniform or the weather.

David Scott, leader of the Labour opposition on City of York Council, said: "This is an issue that is a real concern for parents and carers responsible for taking children to school. Many roads are clogged up with traffic, particularly on a morning, and a crossing patrol officer is an important part of reducing the risk to those pedestrians crossing roads near to schools.

"The report seeks to uncover the existing situation in relation to the recruitment and retention of patrol officers. We need to find innovative ways to tackle the recruitment problem."

The report, by council officer Mark Bennett, says 15 of the 35 crossing points are now unmanned, although six of these are undergoing a review, so are not yet being counted as vacant posts.

Lollipop men and women in York are currently paid £6 an hour, although this is to raise to £7.38 an hour under the council's new pay structure. The council says this compares very well with other areas of Yorkshire. Mr Bennett said employees doing the job generally enjoyed it and retention was not a problem, but recruiting new staff was difficult.

He said the council was trying to address the shortage through vigorous advertising campaigns and raising the profile of the job. The council is also exploring whether patrols can be given additional responsibilities and hours, such as teaching road-safety in schools to pedestrians and cyclists.

Holgate councillor Sonja Crisp, who has campaigned for local patrols, said: "It is the recruitment of patrol officers more than the retention that seems to be the problem.

"The fact is these are not well- paid jobs, and are jobs that involve a split shift so a person may find themself only working a couple of hours at each end of the day.

"Clearly this acts as a barrier to their finding extra hours to top up their income.

"One solution may be to combine this role more formally with another role that gives longer guaranteed hours and this is something I hope to see considered."