MORE than 1,000 people have backed a campaign for extra road safety measures outside a primary school in Liversedge after the loss of its crossing patrol.

Parents of pupils at Littletown Junior, Infant and Nursery School raised fears after they learned that the vital ‘lollipop man’ would not be replaced after he retired last week.

They are now calling on the Council to upgrade the zebra crossing on the busy Bradford Road to a pelican crossing – and to add warning signs and lights in the hope that motorists will stop to allow pupils to cross safely.

Parent Emma Hatherly, whose two children, Laura, ten, and Luke, eight, attend the school, has set up an online petition and is encouraging people to sign it.

She hopes they can get enough signatures to prompt a debate on the matter at a meeting of Kirklees Council.

The petition says the loss of the crossing patrol will “dramatically affect the safety of children” trying to cross the road outside the school.

Mrs Hatherly told the Telegraph & Argus: “The school crossing patrol retired at the end of last week, and since then we have been without a crossing patrol.

“The school has been told by the Council that their policy is not to replace school crossing patrol staff where there is already an existing crossing in place. They consider that to be good enough.

“A large group of us parents are saying we don’t think that is enough because Bradford road is such a busy road.

“There are often situations where cars don’t stop as people are waiting to cross –some people have said they’ve had to wait for six or seven cars to go past before they can cross safely.

“Without a the crossing patrol this is only going to get worse.

“There are also parking bays all along the road, almost up to the school gates, which makes it more difficult for drivers to see those on the pavements.”

She added that there had been many crashes at the zebra crossing and that parents and teachers were concerned that it was only a matter of time before a small child was knocked down while attempting to use the crossing.

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“We understand the Council is having to cut costs, but at what cost to road safety,” she said.

A Council spokesman said: “In line with national guidelines our policy is not to replace crossing patrols where there is a formal crossing facility.

“However, as we are continuing to discuss the future of this service with our partners in schools, to find a sustainable way to support them with road safety, we will be speaking to the head teacher about all the options available at this time.”

The petition is at change.org