Crossing is just an accident waiting to happen
LOLLIPOP LADY QUITS JOB
A lollipop lady has quit her job and insists it is only a matter of time until a parent or child is hit by a car.
Jacqui Carver, from Allerdene, Gateshead, has helped children safely cross Chowdene Bank outside Oakfield Infant and Junior Schools for almost five years.
Jacqui “loves” the job and watching the children grow, but says she no longer feels safe in the role due to abusive drivers and illegally-parked cars creating hazardous conditions.
The lollipop lady claims she is sworn at by impatient commuters and has had her stick struck several times by vehicles while stood in the middle of the road.
Jacqui also fears parked vehicles on single-yellow lines during school rush hours create dangerous conditions blocking drivers’ vision of any pedestrians – big or small.
The mum-of-three handed in her notice on Monday, and received emotional hand-made cards and gifts in her final day in the role on Friday.
Jacqui, 49, said: “I came to work on Monday and was sitting in the car thinking what am I doing here. I don’t feel safe.
“I think it’s important to have a patrol across here because it’s really busy.
“However, I don’t feel I can do the job safely and that’s why I handed my notice in.”
Jacqui first took on the role when her three sons attended the schools, and took on the role for a second stint when her granddaughter followed in their footsteps.
The former lollipop lady said she enjoyed the “lovely” job, socialising with parents and watching the children “grow”.
Jacqui said: “I like meeting the children and watching them grow in confidence from September. It’s nice seeing the older children in Year 6 getting excited about going to senior schools.
“It’s really nice watching them all grow. I have a bit of a natter with the parents, it’s all really friendly.
“It’s a lovely little job, but I feel now I’m not only putting myself in danger but the children too. No job is worth that.”
Jacqui believes the safety fears and abuse have been going on for a long time, while traffic wardens sporadically moving parked cars has not stopped parents leaving their vehicles on the single-yellow line.
The caring mum does not want the “guilt” of being in the road in the event of a child or herself being hit by a careless driver.
She finished: “I don’t want to feel responsible standing in the middle of the road and for a car to come down the bank and not see me or the children. “It’s an accident waiting to happen.” A Gateshead Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, just about every school in Gateshead experiences problems with parents parking in an unsafe manner outside of school, and it’s a problem that is certainly not confined to Gateshead. Our head teachers make regular appeals to parents not to park in a way that will endanger the children and other road users, but clearly to no avail.”