Parents and children fearing for their safety have protested outside a school to demand action.

Protesters gathered outside Chingford Church of England Primary School on Friday, March 22, to challenge the decision of Waltham Forest Council to not fund a replacement for a much loved lollipop man that will be retiring.

A petition to challenge the decision asking for 4000 signatures has also been launched.

Fearing for the safety of pedestrians on the crossing, children and parents at the school launched the campaign demanding traffic calming measures to make the zebra crossing outside their school safe, including a 20mph zone outside the school, a pelican crossing and a raised humped crossing.

Chingford Church of England Primary School is a split site school which means children and staff are required to use the Kings Road crossing throughout the day to walk between the infant and junior sites - which leaves them vulnerable to inconsiderate drivers.

Stan Silverston, 86, has been a lollipop man in front of the Chingford school for 21 years, but is due to retire next Friday, April 5.

He is now due to retire, but despite concerns raised by Mr Silverston, parents and members of the community, Waltham Forest Council has said that a new replacement crossing patrol person will not be employed beyond next Friday.

He said: "I’ve been doing this job for 21 year now and I know first hand how fast and how dangerous this road is.

"This is a very dangerous road, they come down here so fast from the lights something’s got to be done to slow the traffic down."

However, from next Friday, the council has said the school will have to fund this role itself.

Head teacher Lindsey Lampard said: "Sometimes cars will stop and then the car behind will overtake particularly if it is a bus that’s stopped it is almost as if the car behind assumes it is a bus stop because they have not registered that there’s a crossing or that they are anywhere near the school."

Students participated by creating their own lollipop man outfits emblazoned with unique slogans of their own invention contributing appropriately to the rhetoric of the campaign.

Large banners and placards were held by parents and members of the community.

Resident Barbara Booth was knocked down at the crossing last August.

She said: "I was in hospital for 3 and a half weeks and I’m only just getting back to doing my usual things."

The event was also attended by Chingford and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith and Labour's prospective candidate for the area Faiza Shaheen.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "I urge the council to operate immediately on the basis of this being a priority.

"This has become a very very busy road. If a child were to get knocked down, what would the council say to themselves if they know that everyone has been asking this for some time now.

"If a child were to get knocked down. What would the council say to themselves if they know that everyone has been asking this for some time now.

"We have a problem. This has become a very very busy road.

"Please sign the petition because the more names we can get the more people that are concerned the more likely it is that the council will make a change."

Dr Shaheen added: "Children often remind us about the urgency of change in all kinds of ways. If this doesn’t get sorted out children’s safety is really at risk."

Waltham Forest Council have now agreed measures with the school to tackle the concerns raised.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment, said: "Funding for School Crossing Patrols has been the responsibility of schools since 2010/11.

"We have met with the school this week and they have indicated they plan to fund a new crossing patrol.

"To support the school we have offered to train any parents who wish to volunteer at the crossing until a permanent replacement is hired.

"In a bid to slow down motorists on Kings Road, we are also installing vehicle activated road signs to advise drivers of the zebra crossing this May.

"We will also be conducting a pedestrian survey to establish whether a pelican crossing can be installed at this location, or alternatively a raised crossing.

"Furthermore as part of our commitment to the Mayors ‘Vision Zero’ we already have plans to continue the roll out of 20mph speed limits to the remaining parts of the borough in the north. 

"To that end earlier this week I once again called for the powers to enforce speed limits to be delegated to London boroughs from the Metropolotian Police, so that we can crackdown on those whose irresponsible and dangerous speeding puts lives at risk; building on the leadership Waltham Forest Council has shown in delivering healthy streets and liveable neighbourhoods, as part of the Enjoy Waltham Forest programme.

“We will continue to work with any school who wants to address road safety concerns and the behaviours of some parents during car based school drop off and pick up’s and I’m pleased that so many schools are working with us and are now also talking about developing ‘School Streets’."

To sign the petition visit: www.change.org/p/support-traffic-calming-measures-outside-chingford-cofe-primary-school