PARENTS say they will take action after being told that there are no current plans to replace a lollipop lady who has retired after 26 years.

Jean Wilson, 65, retired from her work helping pupils from Ivy Chimneys School cross Centre Drive, Epping, earlier in the month, but Essex County Council, which paid her wages, has told the school it does not meet the right criteria for a replacement.

Parent Jenny Heath, 36, said: “The school sent a statement to parents saying that there are not currently considered to be enough people there.

“It’s ironic that for 26 years, (the council) was able to fund Jean and now they’re saying no.”

She said a group of parents was planning to get a petition together in time to gather signatures from mums, dads and residents after the half-term break next week.

“We feel the safety of the children is being put at risk,” she added. “We understand all the budgets are cut, but we don’t feel cutting children’s safety is the way to go.”

The professional child minder walks her own four and seven-year-old children and two others from her home in Sunnyside Road to the school every day.

She said that since Mrs Wilson retired two weeks ago, she had seen several near-misses between children and cars.

“My older daughter was trying to step out after a motorist waved her across and I shouted ‘no’ at her,” she said. “She looked up in time to see a car coming the other way from Ivy Chimneys Road and was visibly shaken.”

Clare Cooper, 39, who has two children at the school, said: “It’s so difficult to cross the road now without Jean. If people are going to work in their cars, they don’t stop.

“There are no speed cameras, no speed humps, nothing to help the children cross the road.

“All the parents are really upset.”

Children at the school are today (Thursday) helping the council’s road safety team to catch speeding motorists along Ivy Chimneys Road, because of the persistent problem with drivers breaking the 30mph limit.

Fears over the road’s safety have been added to by plans to convert the nearby Spotted Dog pub into nine homes, which neighbours say would add to danger from traffic.

The district council is expected to allow the development at its area planning meeting next month.

Tracey Chapman, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The school crossing patrol at Ivy Chimneys, Epping resigned from her post recently.

“Essex County Council informed the school that at present the school crossing patrol service has very limited resources to provide cover for vacant sites and all mobile patrols are currently deployed at various sites on a permanent basis.

“Essex County Council has not made any final decision on the provision of a school crossing patrol at this location for the future. It is under review and a further site visit is scheduled to take place after the October half term.

“The school has been made aware of this.”

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