Cubbington school protests to save its crossing

Cubbington Primary School’s crossing lady stepped down recently and, as things stand, Warwickshire County Council will not be recruiting for the vacant position because the spot which it covers - at the crossroads of Church Hill, High Street, New Street and Church Hill - does not meet national criteria.

Parents, pupils, governors, parish councillors and the school’s headteacher gathered at the cross roads on Tuesday afternoon to protest against the decision, which they say is putting the lives of 100 children and their families at risk.

Parent Pete Johnson said; “It’s ridiculous that they are putting children’s lives at risk.”

The junction, at the bottom of a steep hill, is one of the busiest in the village and on what villagers have described as a ‘rat run’ used by motorists who want to make a shortcut through the village and out to the Welsh Road.

Measures have been taken to prevent too many cars parking in the area during the school run but parish councillor and school governor David Saul said more parents will drive their children to school if they do not think the crossing is safe.

Heateacher Juliet Jones said: “We are really upset and don’t understand why the job has been removed because of a retirement.

“We have met the criteria in the past but it seems the council has moved the goalposts.

“A lollipop lady is crucial for getting children to and from school safely every day.”

Graeme Fitton, head of transport for Warwickshire County Council, met some of the protestors on Tuesday.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, this is not about savings that Warwickshire County Council needs to make, all sites that become vacant are reassessed to whether they currently meet the criteria for provision of a school crossing patrol.

“The decision whether to disestablish the site has not yet been made and the assessment of the site involves counting the number of pupils who cross there and the number of vehicles that pass during that time.

“In the meantime we won’t be recruiting to the position but we will continue to survey the site on occasions to see if the initial survey was representative.

Wallace Redford (Con), county councillor for Cubbington, is concerned about the situation and has invited community safety portfolio holder Cllr Les Caborn to see the junction at its busiest time.