‘We must do everything we can to protect our children from road danger’

Our school crossing patrol officers, or lollipop men and women as they are affectionately known, do a truly fantastic job in dangerous circumstances.

Working split shifts in all weathers for the living wage, they make such a difference to the journey to school for so many children who must cross dangerous streets.

Without them, many parents might decide that the journey to school is too dangerous and take the car. This creates a vicious circle, putting those who still walk and cycle to school at even greater risk.

Parents also risk making their children less active and less ready to learn when they arrive at school. If air quality does not improve, the latest research shows children will be less able to learn and thrive.

We have left no stone unturned, despite our search for savings, to ensure that we can keep our school crossing patrols. This is in the context of being left with a £52m deficit.

Although under the new UK Labour government our core spending power has not increased as much as it did in previous years, we now have just about enough headroom to retain these invaluable public servants to keep our children safe on the journey to school.

If Bristol City Council does not set a balanced budget, government commissioners would come in, take over the council and strip out services like this and so many other things that the council does, which are not mandatory in law.

On top of that, commissioners would look to sell council assets to make up the shortfall, which is precisely what’s happening in Birmingham.

I am thankful that we will not have to cut our school crossing patrols.

Many drivers believe it is their god-given right to drop their children directly outside school, despite the danger that creates – photo: Martin Booth

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need any school crossing patrols. In an ideal world, the real danger to children from being hit by a motorised vehicle, controlled by another human being, would be better controlled.

We can do something about this. Vision zero – the aim that there will be no deaths or serious injuries on our roads- is something we will work towards, like many other UK councils, and cities and countries across the world.

Whether that means making the roads and cars safer for all, improving driver behaviour, or increasing enforcement, we must do everything we can to protect our children and ourselves from road danger.

This includes cracking down on poor cycling and scooting, and ensuring our pavements are clear for pedestrians.

School streets – closing the street outside the school gate, at school drop-off and pick-up times – will also be part of the process.

But most of all, we should focus on the source of danger and risk: motorised vehicles. This includes tackling rat running on residential streets, driving more slowly and leaving the car at home for those who can.

So, while I am delighted that we don’t need to take forward the reduction in school crossing patrols, I’m also determined to reduce road danger.

By working together with the emergency services, but more importantly all the people who drive and move goods and services around Bristol, we can make Bristol’s streets safer for our children once and for all.

This is an opinion piece by Ed Plowden, chair of Bristol City Council’s transport & connectivity committee and Green councillor for Windmill Hill

Main photo: Martin Booth

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