'Don't axe our lollipop patrol' says head teacher

A head teacher is backing a community campaign to keep a lollipop patrol which is set to be axed.

Sarah Middleton has been told by Dorset Council that her school crossing patrol job at Ferndown's middle and first schools will cease at the end of term.

It comes after two zebra crossings were installed in Church Road and Dorset Council ruled that patrols could no longer be positioned on zebra crossings.

But Ferndown Middle School head teacher Grant Hopkins said the busy route remains a danger to pupils.

Hopkins said: "Sarah does an incredible job and everyone was aghast when we learned that she would not be with us from September.

"There is a great deal of traffic and despite there being two zebra crossings, some cars just will not stop.

"It requires someone like Sarah to enable safe crossing.

"We really don't know why she is being relieved of her duties."

Middleton, who has been in the job for 18 months, said: "I receive a lot of abuse from drivers, some of whom just don't want to stop – the zebra crossings don't stop them.

"It really can get very dangerous."

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: "Where a patrol is needed and meets our policy criteria, we continue to fully fund and support these roles.

"However, having a zebra crossing and school crossing patrol in the same location can create confusion about who drivers should respond to.

"Department for Transport guidance states that clear priorities for drivers is critical when designing road layouts."

Tracey Whitcher, whose father David Whitaker was the relief lollipop man at Church Road, said: "We've lived here for 30 years and having the zebra crossing on the road doesn't really work because drivers just don't see it."

Dorset councillor Cathy Lugg, whose granddaughters attend the schools, added: "Without the patrol it becomes very dangerous."

A similar campaign at Lytchett Matravers Primary School led to a patrol being relocated away from a zebra crossing, with the town council funding the role.

In 2011, the former Dorset County Council operated more than 60 school crossing patrols.

Dorset Council said that by September 2026 there would be 27.