Road safety outside Lindley Junior and Lindley CE Infant School has been of ongoing concern for parents for many years. In December 2011 the issue came to a head when parents protested outside the Schools blocking vehicles from entering George Street. This resulted in the police having to patrol the highway at the start and end of the School day for a number of months. This has now been discontinued with officers being required elsewhere.

Since the events of December, a public meeting has taken place involving all concerned parties including the police, School staff, parents, residents and local councillors resulting in a working group being formed which has now produced several options for further exploration.

A survey of the area has also been undertaken by the council’s Highway’s Department showing that between the hours of 8 and 9am and 5 and 6pm 615 and 437 unaccompanied children crossed George Street respectively.

While Lindley Councillor Cahal Burke is pleased that action is being taken he is concerned that the process involved in introducing the changes will take too long and that – ultimately – funding may not be available. The Councillor believes a crossing Patrol on George Street should be introduced immediately to help ensure child safety while the options are explored and consulted on and the availability of funding established.

Cllr Burke said:

“While I am pleased that officers are taking the concerns of parents, residents and councillors seriously, I am very concerned that an accident is going to happen before anything is actually done. Around 1000 unaccompanied children cross George Street each day and the situation could be immediately improved by the introduction of a crossing patrol and this is what should happen while work on the various options is undertaken. To not do this wilfully places the safety of local children at risk. We want to create an environment which gives parents the confidence to allow their children to use alternatives to the car for their journey to and from school and bringing in a crossing patrol would help to achieve this.”

“My understanding is that George Street does not meet the criteria for a crossing patrol. I have a number of objections on this front. Firstly, the decision has been made on evidence gathered on just one day. Secondly, the efforts Police, the Schools, parents and councillors have made to reduce the number of vehicles travelling along George Street should be taken in account when considering the results of the survey produced by officers. At present, they seem to be saying that we can’t have a crossing patrol because we have helped ourselves. This strict attitude to policy seems to run in the face of common sense, actively discouraging people from trying to tackle issues themselves. It is also likely that in September when the new intake of children come the issue will flare up again so whatever improvement there has been it may not be permanent. I have written to the Director responsible for the service explaining this and asking for them to be flexible over the criteria on this occasion and that they introduce a crossing patrol as an interim measure until a longer term solution can be found and implemented.”

People can sign Cllr Burke’s petition to get a crossing patrol instated on George Street Lindley by visiting: www.signme.org.uk/692

Sgt Simon Short of Lindley Neighbourhood Policing Team said

“It is disappointing that we have not been able to secure the services of a crossing patrol. We will continue to work with all interested parties to further improve road safety around George Street”