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Calls for the council to change the way it reviews school crossing patrols have been rejected.

Cllr Kevin Etheridge, Leader of the council’s Independent Group, called for a review during a full council meeting, held on Wednesday, March 16.

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 a council Education for Life Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Cllr Etheridge, who represents the Blackwood ward, first raised the issue after Blackwood Primary School was told it would no longer have a school crossing patrol following the retirement of its lollipop lady.

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

At the full council meeting, Plaid Cymru councillor Martyn James, who represents Ystrad Mynach, said he had also lost a school crossing patrol service in his ward back in December.

Cllr James added: “The headmistress or the parents were not consulted – I don’t think there’s enough consultation with the people that matter.”

According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 20 school crossing patrols have been removed in the borough since 2014. However, two of these were due to the schools themselves closing.

There are vacant lollipop posts currently being advertised at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Caerffili, Risca Primary and Bedwas Juniors.

Independent councillor Nigel Dix, who also represents Blackwood, said: “Parents not being consulted is wrong.”

Laura Bridgens, who’s six-year-old attends the school, previously told Caerphilly Observer: “As a parent I think it is very worrying that they have taken this service away.”

Ms Bridgens added that parking at the school has become “horrific” since the retirement of the lollipop lady because she is not there to police the situation.

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Property, said: “We would have to make a Caerphilly County Borough-specific policy, that would deviate from the national policy.”

Cllr Dix responded: “I appreciate there’s national guidelines, and we can hide behind these, but we can alter them to make them fit. It is not an impossibility.”

But, the motion was defeated with 15 voting in support and 36 voting against.

However, council officers have confirmed that Blackwood Primary School would be reassessed – a move welcomed by Cllr Etheridge.

Labour councillor Sean Morgan criticised the motion and said it was “too area specific”.

Cllr Etheridge rejected this claim and said: “All I have asked for is a review of the policy.”