Parents ‘overjoyed’ at return of school’s crossing patrol

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Campaigners for the reinstatement of a crossing patrol at Blackwood Primary School have welcomed news the role will be filled in time for next term.

Hundreds of people signed a petition to bring back the service at the school over road safety concerns.

Blackwood Primary’s former lollipop lady retired in early 2022 and the service was not continued – but Caerphilly County Borough Council revisited that decision this year after local pressure.

The new crossing guard will take up the post on the afternoon of Monday January 6, it is understood.

Donna Jones was one of those behind the calls for the service to be reinstated. She said: “I have led the campaign with Cllr Kevin Etheridge over the past few years, and parents are overjoyed that their children will feel safe again crossing busy roads”.

Cllr Etheridge, an independent who represents the Blackwood ward, added: “The safety of the primary school children is paramount, and with the crossing patrol reinstated I am so pleased.”

He also welcomed the recent presence of enforcement officers monitoring any parking problems around Blackwood Primary.

A spokesperson for the council said the crossing patrol at the school had been “subject to a number of assessments carried out in accordance with national guidance”.

“Unfortunately, the site did not meet the criteria following initial assessments in 2022,” they explained.

“However, the council has continued to monitor the location since that time and recent changes to pedestrian and vehicle flows has led to the site being re-established.”

The council spokesperson was also keen to point out that the new school crossing patrol at Blackwood Primary will not have “any remit over parking contraventions”.

“This will remain the responsibility of the council’s civil enforcement officers,” they added.