School staff are being prevented from helping children cross a busy road to get to a Liverpool school, according to a concerned blind family.
Greg and Allisha Jones, of Selwyn Street, are both registered blind and have expressed their concerns about a busy junction near their daughter’s school, St Francis de Sales Catholic Junior School. They claim they fear for their family's safety when crossing the junction of Hale Road and Carrisbrook Road.
Mr and Mrs Jones have praised the school for their support as they live with sight loss, with a no parking zone put in place to ease their struggles in picking up their child. The couple have now suggested Liverpool Council is preventing staff at the school from helping children cross the road.
READ MORE: Covid infections increase in every area of the Liverpool City Region
They said: “We now have no crossing attendant and the staff have also been asked by the council not to help the kids across the road.” The pair said that they had received a text message from the school informing parents of the instruction from the council to not assist pupils at the junction."
Mr and Mrs Jones described the decision as “a disgrace.” Liverpool Council has clarified its position regarding the decision, with a spokesperson telling the ECHO that only those with requisite training can act as a school crossing under the Highways Act of 1984.
The Act states that anyone appointed to the position must have “adequate qualifications” through “requisite training” and therefore teachers and school staff who do not meet the necessary guidelines cannot provide assistance.
A report to Liverpool Council’s climate change and environment select committee by cabinet member, Cllr Dan Barrington revealed that around 12 new school crossing patrol officers should be in place by the end of this month.
Cllr Barrington conceded that the role had been “difficult” to recruit for despite vacancies being advertised through schools and ward councillors promoting throughout their communities.
The spokesperson for Liverpool Council said a dialogue remains ongoing with the school over crossing provisions with a new attendant expected in due course.
