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Councillors have voted against a motion to review the council’s school crossing patrol service – but the decision not to replace the patrol at Blackwood Primary School will be reassessed.

Cllr Kevin Etheridge, Leader of the Independent Group, called for a review on the way the council assesses a school’s need for a school crossing patrol.

Currently, when a lollipop person resigns or retires, the school is assessed by the council to see if it meets the criteria for a replacement.

This policy was adopted in January 2014, at an Education for Life Scrutiny Committee meeting.

At an Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 9, Cllr Etheridge called for the policy to be updated.

Marcus Lloyd, the council’s Head of Infrastructure, said despite the policy being adopted in 2014 the guidelines were last updated in 2016 and are “continually reviewed nationally”.

Cllr Etheridge said the current review process has caused much distress in the Blackwood ward, which he represents. The council recently decided that Blackwood Primary School’s lollipop lady, who has retired, will not be replaced.

More than 200 people have signed a petition to reinstate the school crossing patrol at the school, which has been in place since it opened in 2001.

However, council officers confirmed at the meeting that Blackwood Primary School would be reassessed.

Cllr Etheridge welcomed this and said: “With 210 parents signing the petition I am pleased that the site will be reassessed by officers following lobbying and discussion, and my meeting with the Cabinet Member, Cllr Andrew Whitcombe.

“I would like to thank all the parents for their support.”

Although Cllr Etheridge’s motion was defeated at the scrutiny meeting, it will now go to a full council meeting to be discussed in March.