Crossing patrol for Flax Bourton School?

FLAX Bourton School could soon have a crossing patrol to ensure children get to school safely.

Parents and teachers have been appealing for a crossing or crossing patrol on Station Road, which they say is dangerous for children to cross due to speeding cars and poor visibility.

The school has been told by North Somerset Council that it is too small to warrant a crossing, but district councillor Karen Barclay has come up an alternative solution to pay for the scheme.

She said: “North Somerset Council can’t fund a crossing or crossing patrol as the school doesn’t meet certain criteria, so I’m looking to get private funding.

“I have approached Flax Bourton Parish Council, the school’s parent and teacher association and Wraxall’s Valley Ball’s committee to see if we can raise the money that way.”

Cllr Barclay confirmed that the organisations had expressed an interest in providing some of the money towards the scheme.

She added: “If we can find the money privately, North Somerset Council would provide the training and the uniform and the community groups who have raised the money would advertise for a person to take on the job.”

To employ a school crossing patrol for five hours a week would cost �2,412 in the first year, which includes the cost of the uniform, training and monitoring.

In subsequent years the cost of the crossing patrol would come to �2,048.

Jane Bennett, headteacher of Flax Bourton Primary School, said: “The proposal sounds very exciting and is a really positive way forward if it is possible.”