23/4/2009 - School Crossers get helping hand

A shortage of school crossers in the county will be highlighted tomorrow as Cumbria County Council makes a bid to fill the Upperby primary school vacancy.

A Police Community Support Officer will be donning a crossers uniform and helping ferry school children safely to their lessons at the Upperby Road crossing.

Regular Upperby Road crosser Janice Swinglehurst will be moving to the Scalegate Road crossing for the day.

The vacancy on Scalegate Road outside Upperby Primary School is one of ten vacancies across the city and Cumbria County Council are continuing to seek out new crossers it’s to fill its 19 posts.

Police and Fire officers will also be attending the road safety, which is due to start at 8:30am.

Cumbria police will be stopping speeding motorists using their mobile unit before passing the motorist on to Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service for road awareness training.

The offending motorist will then be asked to view a hard hitting dvd on the dangers of speeding and highlights the importance of awareness of other road users, particularly around schools.

Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "The event is all about promoting safety around our schools, and this included the police, fire and rescue, and school crossing patrols.

"They are a very important part of school life and with supervised crossing points, parents feel safer about children walking to school and crossing busy roads.

"We are always working hard to fill all the empty school crossing patrol posts across the county and I would urge anyone who may be able to spare a few hours a day in term time to apply in order to make a real contribution to the safety of pedestrians."

They feel part of the community and enjoy getting to know children and parents. In Carlisle, 10 of the 19 school crossing sites currently need a crosser.

Anybody over 18 who might be able to spare a few hours a day in term-time can apply.

The Scalegate Road crossing vacancy is for five hrs per week, operating from 8:45am to 9.15am and from 3.15pm to 3.45pm everyday during term time. 

The job can be shared between two people, with one doing the morning and one the afternoon. Full training is given and the uniform and stick are supplied.

Anyone interested in becoming a school crosser, anywhere in Carlisle, should call 01228 227712.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226334