June McCombie stood for 30 years, rain or shine.
She helped a generation of pupils cross the road safely.
But now Aberdeen council has said her £2,500 a year role does not need to be replaced.
The parent council at Walker Road School has raised concerns about the lack of road safety measures in place.
Both entrances are on busy roads in Torry – Walker Road and Grampian Road – but parents have been told the school is no longer eligible for lollipop patrols or a zebra crossing.
Much-loved lollipop lady June sadly died in October last year – after more than three decades of helping children get safely to and from school.
Parent council secretary, Bianca Duthie, said her death was a “huge shock” and loss for the school and wider community.
In the following months, the parent council made attempts to have someone new instated in the role, but have been told they are no longer entitled to a lollipop man or woman.
‘No safe place to cross the road’
Mrs Duthie explained the building is not in a council priority zone which qualifies it for these safety measures.
A current advertisement for a school crossing patroller in Aberdeenshire has an annual salary of about £2,500.
Mrs Duthie stressed pupils and parents felt passionately that road safety for children was worth investing in.
She said: “The other primary in Torry, Tullos School, has both so this feels as though we are being unfairly targeted.
“There is a lot of frustration among everyone. This is something we feel very passionate about – all children should have a safe way into the school.
“Parents and others will park on the zig zags outside the school, which I know is a problem across the city. There is also on-street parking along both roads for residents and a number of bus stops, which are another concern.
“Drivers will often be forced to pull in outside the school, in the zig zag area, to let the buses pass. There is no safe place for the children to cross the road.
“There was an accident just last week on Walker Road. Luckily none of the pupils were injured.”
Cars will reportedly often stop or park directly outside the school despite the zig zag lines and Keep Clear signs, often at times when up to 380 children from primary one through to seven are trying to get home safely.
A spokeswoman from Aberdeen City Council said: “The intention is to promote a reduced speed limit (20mph) on Walker Road.”
A visual impact
The parent council has recently met with pupils, including the school’s health and safety coordinators, to hear their concerns and brainstorm some solutions.
On Friday, the pupils will take part in a road safety assembly and then head to the playground to tie ribbons on the school gate. Each year group will use a different coloured ribbon to represent each pupil.
The children hope the visual of hundreds of ribbons will make a big impact and deter motorists from parking outside the school.
“The children are aware and they want change,” Mrs Duthie added. “The health and safety coordinators have got really involved. They’re great young kids, very mature.”
Walker Road pupils and parents plan to continue exploring safety options after the summer holidays.
One of the initiatives they hope to fundraise for is “parking buddies”, inspired by St Andrews Primary in Fraserburgh. The aluminum cut-outs hold lollipop signs stating “think before you park” and aim to discourage drivers from blocking crossings.
