Lollipop lady bid to tackle safety fears
Parking problems outside a Mid Wales school during morning and afternoon rush hours have led to growing fears over safety.
People parking on double yellow lines and pavements around Penygloddfa Primary School in School Lane have lead to the school requesting a lollipop man or lady, Newtown Town Council heard.
Jenn Jones, town clerk, said: "Penygloddfa has requested a lollipop lady or man because it is a huge issue. People park on double yellow lines and children are crossing between cars and it is hard to see them. It is not very pleasant for parents taking their children to school."
The council heard how other schools employ their own lollipop lady or man and pay them, before claiming the money from Powys County Council which then bills Newtown Town Council which pays for them through its precept.
Members agreed to fund the new lollipop person in a bid to cut down on the problem.
Councillor Phil Watkin said the move was vital. But Councillor Tom Chandler added: "We don't want children run over, but lollipop ladies can't determine how people drive."
Members agreed to write to the school to tell it to employ a lollipop warden and then seeking the funding.
It follows a study by children at schools in the town which saw more than 100 motorists stopped for not wearing seatbelts and 52 children not sitting in car seats properly.
Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service teamed up with groups of schoolchildren from Newtown for the study.
The groups found 115 drivers not wearing seatbelts and 47 people speeding, as well as five people on their mobile phones as they drove.
Steve Rowlands, community safety manager for the fire service in north Powys, said: "From the data captured, the main issues are not wearing seatbelts and children not sitting in car seats or in inappropriate car seats."
