Chants of “Save our lollipop lady” and “Save our lives” plus car horns adding their support in the background soundtracked a small but lively protest outside Beeston Primary School this afternoon (13 March 2025).
As we reported in September, the council has decided to withdraw the funding it provides to the school to employ a crossing warden, citing the zebra crossing that was installed a few years ago and the 20 mph speed limit as being sufficient.
Parent Esther Amoako said:
“I think we need her (the crossing warden). Although we’ve got that crossing, it doesn’t bother people. We still get people driving past even when she’s stood in the middle. We’ve got kids who come to school by themselves, with no parents. When she is here you’ve got the peace of mind that at least they can get to school safely. People may say it (the zebra crossing) is very close to the school, but anything can happen. Even with her in the middle we get people who run across it and it’s so risky – lives are being put at risk. The crossing is not enough.”
Her son, Richest, added:
“Many lives are at risk. Because if your mum or your dad come to drop you off at school If the lollipop lady isn’t there you could get run over and break something or even die. I’ve seen children in Year 4 walking along the road, they can use the crossing but the speeding cars might get run over.”
The protest was organised by Sasha Watson, another parent at the school. She told us:
“It was really lovely to see people out here supporting this cause and it shows that people feel really strongly about it. We’ve managed to gather nearly a thousand signatures on paper which is really good. The entire community are behind this, not just parents.”
Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) who has been trying to get the Council to reverse the decision, commented:
“I am supportive of the parent-led campaign to protect the Crossing Patrol outside Beeston Primary School. While the crossing does not meet the Council’s criteria, I do not believe enough work has been put in to looking at the speed and volume of the traffic, or nearby corner and junction which needs to be better understood before any decision which could impact on Children’s safety is made.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said:
“We take road safety extremely seriously as part of the council’s commitment to our Vison Zero ambition to see no one killed or seriously injured on our roads by 2040. We understand the decision to cease the crossing service outside Beeston Primary School has been a disappointment to some parents. However, we operate to a strict set of criteria which this particular crossing, which already has a zebra crossing and is in a 20 miles per hour zone, does not meet. Over the last three years, there have been no recorded injury collisions outside the school.
“We work with a number of schools across the city where they contribute to the costs of maintaining a school crossing warden, this was offered to Beeston Primary School last September and the council agreed to continue funding the service until the end of the current financial year to give them time to consider the funding. They have subsequently said they are unable to contribute to the costs. As the road in question does not meet the criteria for a council-funded crossing warden we cannot continue to fund it and so the last day the service will be in operation will be March 28, 2025.”
South Leeds Life understands that the school is already under extreme budgetary pressure and that some support staff are curently being laid off.
You can add your signature to the online version of the petition here.
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I’ve set up a petition for Lollypop lady we need her to safely cross the children and the community. The road outside Beeston Primary school is an extremely busy junction and even though it’s got a zebra crossing driver don’t follow the rules of the road with a lollypop lady it’s still dangerous hence why she has a body cam but without her it’s a accident waiting to happen. I fear that we are going to lose lives all for the sake of 3 grand per year
To the Leeds City Council Spokesperson: The reason why there has not been any collisions or accidents at school times is because the school crossing patrol person keeps everyone safe. When there is a visible presence drivers slow down, i believe by removing the school crossing patrol, drivers will drive faster and therefore not stop in time for the unmanned zebra crossing.
Keep our lollipop lady before someone gets killed what is 3k when a child has their whole life ahead of them safety comes first the amount of cars I have seen even going through the zebra crossing whilst the crossing attendant is there is a lot and this shouldnt be put forward to the general public and the school to maintain the road safety of our children and people who cross the street everyday