Hoping for a safe crossing

A month-long pilot scheme will determine if a second full-time crossing patrol is needed to help pupils get to a village school.

A temporary crossing patrol is operating at the junction of Swinderby Road and High Street, Collingham, about 1/2--mile north of the village’s John Blow Primary School.

Mrs Peggy Papworth, a midday supervisor at the school, volunteered to be the crossing warden for the trial that ends on Friday.

The school head, Mrs Helen Richardson, said they had been asking for a crossing patrol in that area for some time but were told not enough children crossed High Street at the north end of the village to warrant one.

When the school pointed out that children were not crossing because there was no one to help them the trial was agreed.

“I know villagers have been campaigning for a number of years for help in crossing the road and this crossing patrol can help anyone,” said Mrs Richardson.

“We want to encourage the children to walk to school more often, but they have to cross a very busy road.”

The county council’s road safety team has been carrying out inspections to check how many children use the temporary crossing.

A spokesman for the council said: “Regular surveys of the site are being carried out during this period to establish if a permanent school crossing patrol can be justified.”

A permanent crossing patrol at the junction of Bell Lane, High Street and Station Road, which is also around a 1/2-mile from the school, has operated since 1991.