‘Crossing patrol cuts are putting lives of Bristol schoolchildren at risk’

A chorus of beeps from motorists rang out in support as children and parents took to the streets in Totterdown to protest against plans to cut school crossing patrols.

“Save Paul!” chanted masses of young voices, as pupils brandished placards calling for Bristol City Council to reconsider proposals to axe half of the current services, in a bid to save £155,000.

Among those set to lose out is the popular lollipop man, Paul Whitmell, who has seen youngsters from Hillcrest Primary School safely across the notoriously busy Wells Road for 15 years.

“Save Paul!” was chanted by children and parents from Hillcrest Primary School, who turned out to protest against plans to cut their crossing patrol.

“I have seen Paul stopping children running out so many times and if he goes, it’s a matter of time before there is a fatality,” says Anna Boulter, one of the protest organisers.

Boulter, who has two young children at the school, added: “It’s the safety of our children that is at stake and that’s what prompted me to act. Even when Paul is away as a one-off, I’m incredibly nervous having to cross the road with the children without him.

“The road is so busy and the speed at which vehicles go is horrifying.”

Parents voiced ‘disgust’ at plans to cut school crossing patrols

The council says it has assessed the 80 school crossing patrol locations across the city and put forward proposals to withdraw funding from 40, based on criteria that includes assessing the volumes of pedestrians and vehicles at school times.

But parents have reacted angrily, saying children’s lives are being put at risk by the cost-cutting plans and arguing that Wells Road is a particularly busy and dangerous route that is used by not only cars, but many heavy goods vehicles.

“I’m disgusted at cutting the budget for school crossing patrols,” said parent Hugh Reynolds.

“I’m one of the lucky ones who live on the school side of this treacherous road but there are many who are less fortunate who live on the other side.

“This should not come at the cost of getting children safely to school. Lives are at stake. We benefited from this protection and now our children will not.”

Childminder Julie Loftus and eight-year-old Cecily Hooper are both calling for Paul’s job to be saved

Childminder Julie Loftus spoke of the perils of trying to escort a number of children across the road.

“I take children to school every morning. I’m also an ex-lawyer and I honestly think that to cut this patrol is really poor judgement,” she said.

“Cars are constantly jumping the lights and you have the bikes coming down and not stopping at all. It’s an accident waiting to happen. I think there is a real chance there would be an accident without Paul.”

Cecily Hooper, eight, said she feels a lot safer crossing the road with Paul there every day.

Ghislaine Swinburn added that her son is autistic and unable to understand about road safety, so she fears what could happen without Paul there to see him to safety.

Popular lollipop man Paul Whitmell

Whitmell himself stuck to doing his job and ensuring the protesters all made it safely across the road, but added that he was surprised and overwhelmed by the level of support – not just from parents and children, but also waiting drivers who tooted in unity.

“It is a good turnout,” says Whitmell. “But when you see them all together, that’s the number of children I cross each day. Traffic is always heavy on this road. And it’s not stopping the traffic, it’s stopping the children running out into the road. Small children are not road safety aware.”

Children made placards in support of Paul

A council spokesperson said: “Providing safe routes to schools is very important. We know these are difficult choices but we must save money. Our proposals recommend that we continue to review the level of provision and available funding for those sites in most need which do not already have an existing safe location to cross the road, such as a button operated pedestrian crossing or a zebra crossing.”

She added that no final decisions have been made, and ideas from members of the community are welcomed, as the council works with schools affected to reduce the impact of the cuts as much as possible and seek alternatives, such as sponsored crossings.

All of the proposed cuts, including an interactive map of the city showing the communities that would be most strongly impacted are available online at www.bristol.gov.uk/yourneighbourhood.

Read more: More than half of Bristol’s libraries could close