Lollipop patrol returns to 'extremely busy' Hartlepool road after councillor's plea

Burn Valley Councillor Jonathan Brash had previously raised concerns that a crossing patrol would not be provided for children in Hartlepool’s Park Road for the remainder of the school year.

This was after a female school crossing patrol warden previously serving the area was injured after a collision involving a car on Park Road last month.

However council chiefs have confirmed the crossing patrol has now been reinstated after a number of staff returned to work from illness, allowing cover to be provided.

Cllr Brash said: “I am delighted that the council has listened and returned this crossing patrol to the Burn Valley ward, it is a really big win for our area.

“It was utter madness to expect children and parents to cross this busy road without a crossing patrol and now they will not have to.

“I would urge all motorists to remember their responsibilities to drive within the speed limit, take extra care around schools and always ‘stop for the pop'”.

Cllr Brash added in further good news that Park Road has seen flashing 20mph signs introduced to warn speeding motorists.

Kieran Bostock, the authority’s assistant director for place management, said road safety, as always, is a “top priority”.

He said: “Unfortunately, however, we can only work with the resources available to us at any given time.

“In this situation all of our patrollers, including our bank of reservists, were deployed on other sites.

“Fortunately we had some members of staff returning from illness which allowed us to once again cover the Park Road site with only a minor intervening period.”

He added this highlights the pressing need for more people to come forward to become crossing patrol staff.

He said: “We have been trying to recruit more crossing patrol staff and have been advertising those posts for a number of months now, but we need people to come forward and apply for them.

“We would encourage anyone who is interested to please give us a call on (01429) 523259 or email [email protected] “

Mr Bostock said the Park Road electronic sign is one of a number which had been on order and have now been installed following delays due to the pandemic.