Almost 500 of their neighbors have joined them by signing an online petition. Like them, you may want to save school crossing patrols in Peterborough, where the city council has proposed scrapping the service at four local schools. Strangely, the council’s initial budget for 2024/25 goes against this trend with a highly contentious move. This has caused widespread fear among parents over their children’s safety.
Brian’s petition has a big goal of 100,000 supporters that it hopes to reach before it closes on June 11, 2024. As long as it obtains 500 signatures by an approaching deadline it can be submitted to a complete council meeting. This creates a huge opportunity to scrutinize that proposal! The proposal endangers the livelihoods of four committed crossing patrol employees. Including Lisa Bryan, who has proudly served at Eye Church of England Primary School for over 26 years.
Parents vented their anger outside the Eye Primary School during a protest last month. They urged the council to reverse its decision, pointing out the increased risk posed to children if there were no crossing patrols. Kerri Deboo, another Werrington Primary School parent, shared her concerns about the risk of children getting hurt at busy periods. She is especially worried about the threats they are up against.
“The traffic doesn’t stop for me so what makes them think it will stop for parents, whether there is a zebra crossing or not,” Bryan explained. “In the mornings, it’s a fighting battle every day.”
Katie Berry, a transportation advocate and parent, echoed many of Bryan’s concerns. She warned that without crossing patrols, it’s just a matter of time before someone gets hit. She highlighted the urgency of the situation, saying, “I know it sounds dramatic, but it is a ‘when’, not an ‘if’ now.”
Angus Ellis, the Labour councillor and cabinet member for environment and transport at Peterborough City Council, called the decision to cut the crossing patrols a difficult decision. Referring to his decision to cut transit, he said that this was just one of many difficult decisions pervading his state’s budget-making process. As thousands of parents have pointed out, the safety of children should come first every time over issues of cost.
In the interim, city councillors used their discretionary community development funds to pay for Lisa Bryan’s position through at least the next academic year. Even with this interim measure, patrols for a safe crossing haven’t been secured come September.
With the petition deadline approaching, parents remain optimistic. They’re counting on the power of their united voice to persuade their city council to reverse course and change its mind. This result will have positive, life-changing effects for committed employees such as Bryan. It will further improve the safety of children as they cross busy, dangerous streets to get to and from school.
