AN URGENT plea has been made for lollipop men and women, amid “very worrying” shortages in Perth.

Lollipop people—school crossing patrol officers, as the council calls them— have a vital role in ensuring youngsters reach school safely.

But some routes in the Fair City are apparently being left without crossing officers for months.

Perth South councillor Willie Wilson has issued a rallying call to potential applicants.

He insists the job appeals to a range of people and hours can be flexible, with job-shares a possibility.

“At present there are several vacancies for school crossing patrol officers in Perth and it is sometimes difficult to fill vacancies at short notice when staff are off ill,” Mr Wilson said.

“The principal responsibility for ensuring that children arrive at school safely remains with the parents.

“However, in terms of community safety the council also plays a role in ensuring that maximum effort is made to provide safe routes to school.

“An integral part of this has traditionally been the provision of school crossing patrol officers, in addition to other facilities such as pedestrian crossing, traffic refuge islands, speed limits and so on.”

Mr Wilson continued, “The current shortage of school crossing patrol officers is very worrying.

“When a vacancy occurs it may be that the crossing has to remain without a member of staff for several weeks or months.

“We have recently recruited a new patrol officer for Oakbank Road in my ward and she is carrying out excellent work following in the footsteps of the very loyal former officer who retired.”

He added, “The work itself can be very interesting, it might appeal to either recently retired folk or young mums who live near the patrol crossing site.”

For more information, call Linda McConville on 01738 476254.