Parents at Booker Avenue Primary School in Allerton have voiced fears of an “accident waiting to happen” after two lollipop crossing wardens were not replaced, leaving children to navigate a busy junction without assistance. They described having to “walk in the road and hope” when crossing, particularly near the junction of Greenhill Road.
Months without crossing patrols
According to parents, the two crossing patrols have been missing since autumn 2025. Alex Nurse, a parent, said he was shocked to witness a former warden being harassed by a driver. “I actually saw one of them getting abuse from a driver, who beeps at a lollipop lady?” he said. Mr Nurse added that the staff were “lovely people” who interacted with children daily but have not been replaced.
Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Makinson said he had been pressing Liverpool Council since January to open the vacant posts for recruitment. “Around Booker Avenue Primary School two crossing patrols have been missing since the autumn, leaving parents and children struggling to cross busy roads,” he said. The councillor noted that the issue is widespread across Liverpool, with many schools facing similar shortages.
Near misses and unsafe crossings
Parents reported numerous near misses. Anna Gaston, who takes her daughter Elsie to the school, said: “I’ve seen so many near misses. It’s an accident waiting to happen.” She described having to change her route because of the danger. Another parent, whose daughter is partially sighted, said Alder Hey hospital advised using crossings in her health care plan, but there are none available. “We just have to wait and see,” she said, adding that the absence of wardens has created “unpredictability.”
Mr Nurse recounted a terrifying experience: “I’ve been stood in the middle of the road before and a car will keep speeding towards you. When you’re with a four-year-old that’s pretty terrifying really, you have to walk into the road and hope.”
Council response and criticism
A Liverpool Labour spokesperson said: “School crossing patrols play a vital role in promoting road safety near school premises. We are actively trying to fill vacant posts, with a number of roles already advertised on the council’s website, and more due to be published soon.” The spokesperson also highlighted the council’s School Streets Initiative and ‘Bobby Zones’ to improve safety, and criticised the Liberal Democrats for cutting school crossing patrols when they previously ran the council.
Cllr Makinson countered that a promised formal crossing at Greenhill Road was abandoned a decade ago. “The area I think is probably the worst is around that junction with Greenhill Road. That’s where we were told a formal crossing point would get put in but then they said they weren’t going to do it,” he said.
