There are concerns for school children’s safety of Robert Le Kyng Primary School due to there being no crossing guard to help kids cross safely.

When the long-time lollipop man at Robert Le Kyng retired two years ago, the school assumed he would be replaced by Swindon Borough Council.

The position still remains vacant as there is no budget available due to council deeming the area to not need this.

There is now real concern that a child could be seriously injured attempting to cross Westcott Street without the protection that a clearly visible lollipop man or woman would provide.

A grandparent of one of the pupils who goes to the school said: “I am getting more and more concerned over the safety of the children I am sure a nasty accident is waiting to happen, as you see parents crossing half way and standing in the middle of the traffic trying to get to the other side. Most of the time we are ignored by traffic, which does not slow down as there are no warning signs or flashing lights to slow traffic down.”

Its not just parents or guardians concerned for the wellbeing of the school kids but also residents of Peter Furkins Court based on the same street.

Joan Brooks, a resident of Peter Furkin Court, said: “I have seen so many kids nearly killed, it is frightening. Drivers speed and overtake and with no lollipop person there to help I fear it will be the children who will most likely suffer the consequences.”

Robert Le Kyng has ensured that there are clear pedestrian access points for their pupils to use safely.

Kate Mackinnon, deputy headteacher at Robert Le Kyng said: “We used to have someone who did the lollypop job, but he retired and since then the vacancy has remained unfilled. We take crossing very seriously at this school and we educate pupils on how to cross the road."

The council has confirmed that vacancy for a crossing patrol officer will remain vacant unless it is an essential to have.

Swindon Borough Council spokesman, Kevin Burchall, said: “The cost of the School Crossing Patrol service was reduced last year as part of a large number of proposals which aimed to tackle the huge financial challenge currently facing the Council.

"At Robert Le Kyng it was decided that the two pedestrian crossings nearby and the school’s excellent road safety plans meant that the school crossing patrol would not be replaced."