Money for lollipop lady made available (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Money for lollipop lady made available

A PRIMARY school which faced losing its crossing patrol because of council penny-pinching has had a former pupil come forward with the money.

The future of the lollipop lady at Ashton Keynes Primary School looked to be secure after former pupil Dominic Threlfall, who works for Pebley Beach Suzuki in Swindon, stepped in to help after reading about the council's proposed funding cuts in the Standard.

The position was in jeopardy after former lollipop lady Shirley Indge retired last November and Wiltshire County Council withdrew funding for her post.

Mr Threlfall, who was at the school in 1975 and whose parents still live in Ashton Keynes, said: "I read the article in the paper, I used to go to school there so I rang the headmistress to say if the council was not prepared to do it we would."

However, to complicate the issue further, the school may have to turn down Mr Threlfall's generous offer because now the school cannot find anyone to take on the crossing patrol.

But David Tarr, Chair of Governors at Ashton Keynes Primary School said Mr Threlfall's offer of help was currently on hold due to a lack of interest in the position.

He also pointed out that although the school was no longer receiving specific funding for a lollipop lady from WCC, Cllr Carole Soden was still exploring other avenues working with both the parish and district councils.

He said: "At the moment we can't take up the offer because we have had no one applying so far. We really need someone to apply. We've advertised it and well keep on advertising it."

Mr Tarr said the lack of secure funding up until now had stopped people applying for the job seriously but now they had the offer from Mr Threlfall they were hoping for a renewed interest in the position.

Mr Tarr said that although people had been picking up applications but none had been returned. He added that the school were flexible to offers and would even consider a job share team.

He said: "If we could get a team of parents it would be ideal."