Warning to drivers after Lollipop lady is knocked down in Thornton

A headteacher has warned drivers and children to take extra care around his school after a lollipop woman was knocked down.
Crossing patrols at Stanah in ThorntonCrossing patrols at Stanah in Thornton
Crossing patrols at Stanah in Thornton

The incident happened on Thursday morning as the school crossing patrol worker was helping children to cross Stanah Road in Thornton.

Elaine Ross was not seriously hurt in the incident and no children were involved.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But now Hamish Clough, head at Stanah Primary School, is calling on drivers to do their bit to ensure children make it to school safely.

He said: “We appreciate that people are busy and need to get to work or appointments but following an incident last Thursday where one of our School Crossing Patrol officers was knocked down, pleasecould we ask that drivers take extra care on the roads at the start and end of the school day.

“This incident highlights how we need to be extra vigilant of people crossing with the school crossing patrols.

“Very often at this time of year, the sun is low in the sky and can make driving vehicles and crossing roads more dangerous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have also reminded our children not to cross until the officer tells them that it is safe to do so.”

There is a maximum speed of 20mph in the school crossing patrol area but Mr Clough said he had seen a number of driver going much faster, even at busy times in the school day.

He said: “I have seen vehicles driving quite fast on the two main roads near school and also witnessed a driver drive through the school crossing the following morning while the officer was in the road.”

And the head of the Lambs Road school made clear parents must play their part in making the area around the school as safe as possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And he warned those tempted to park illegally they might face police action.

He said: “Crossing on Lambs Road is also becoming more hazardous as people are now parking illegally and parking in between the ‘No Parking’ markers that we were asked to place outside school, thus causing drivers to concentrate more on the parked cars.

“As a school, we will be asking the children’s Parking Busters group from the Thornton primary schools to continue to look into these issues and we will forward details of any repeat offenders to the police.”

Two-years-ago parents at the school battled Lancashire County Council plans to scrap the crossing patrols.

Related topics: