MORE than 300 people have signed a petition urging the council to re-think its plan to remove a lollipop man from a Bromborough crossing.

Forty schools across Wirral are to lose lollipop men and women after a ‘risk assessment’ survey found other school crossings were more in need.

Among those facing relocation is Tony Farrell, who has worked at the busy junction of Allport Lane and Allport Road in Bromborough for ten years, seeing parents and children safely over the road as they make their way to nearby Mendell Primary and Christ The King Primary Schools.

So far, 371 people have signed the petition to keep him, which is also online.

Wirral Globe:

Petition organisers Stephanie Verlander and Helen Gallagher with lollipop man Tony Farrell with parents and children from Christ The King school. Pictures: Craig Manning

Tony, 71, is described by petition organiser Helen Gallagher as a very important part of the community.

Helen, whose three children attend Christ The King, told the Globe: "It is an extremely busy crossroads and we need him to keep everyone safe on their way to and from school.

“He’s a very loyal lollipop man and went to the pre-school to give a talk on road safety.

“He is an extremely valuable member of the community and will be missed by the kids at Mendell Primary and Christ The King.”

The petition's co-creator Stephanie Verlander said: "We think this decision is wrong.

"Tony's such a nice person, who deserves the full support of community."

Wirral Globe:

Petition organisers Stephanie Verlander and Helen Gallagher with lollipop man Tony Farrell

Tony, who worked for more than told the Globe: "I don't want to be moved elsewhere; I want to stay where I am.

"The children and parents I see every day are like my family. I know them all personally.”

The decision to relocate followed a town hall survey at 48 schools to gauge whether a crossing patrol was essential. The review took into consideration sites’ proximity to a pelican or zebra crossing.

It was decided that only eight will keep their lollipop people while the other 40 are to be dispatched to different locations.

Wirral Globe:

Petition organisers Stephanie Verlander and Helen Gallagher with lollipop man Tony Farrell with children from Christ The King school. 

Among those signing the online petition to keep Tony is Bridie Metcalf, who said: “Children need to be able to cross roads safely at very high volume traffic times going to and from school.

“Children are more important than rushing traffic. School children depend on our lolly pop people.”

Joanna Smith from Bromborough added: “This must be a joke. As an adult I hate crossing here - it's an incredibly busy and dangerous crossroads.

“If Tony goes I genuinely fear that a young person’s life will be in danger.

“So many children from at least two schools rely on him as they walk, cycle and use their scooters.”

Wirral Globe:

Petition organisers Stephanie Verlander and Helen Gallagher with lollipop man Tony Farrell with parents and children from Christ The King school.

Norman Grundy also signed the online petition, describing Tony as a ‘very important person’ He added: “Cross roads very busy and not all drivers obey the red lights thus putting children’s, and their parents, lives at risk”

A Council spokesperson said: "The assessment of this location concluded there was no specific safety reason for a school crossing patrol to operate in addition to the pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights and, from September, the school crossing patrol should be re-assigned to a location where there aren’t existing controlled crossing facilities.

"However, in an effort to improve pedestrian flow and regulate traffic movements across this junction, we are looking at changing the timing of the traffic signals.

"While we understand the reassurance that parents, children and other pedestrians receive from the assistance of the school crossing patrol, controlled signals – if followed correctly – should allow people to cross in a safe and speedy manner.”

To join the petition to keep Tony Farrell at Allport Road crossroads, visit www.change.org/p/wirral-borough-council-save-our-lollipop-man