WHITELEY parents are in uproar after a Fareham councillor slapped them with the responsibility of providing lollipop patrols for their children.
Furious parents have labelled Councillor Sean Woodward's appeal to fill the posts themselves a "personal insult" and say it is the council that should be organising the public service.
But Cllr Woodward has hit back at the claims stating that his appeal has worked and that they are hoping to have lollipop wardens in place on the busy Yew Tree Drive after half-term.
Flashing lights, anti-skid road surface on the existing crossing site and a survey to determine whether a pelican or puffin crossing is needed are also in the pipeline after a meeting between Cllr Woodward and a county council road safety engineer.
The urgent need for safety measures on the road, which hundreds of schoolchildren cross each day, came to a head when a little girl was knocked down by a car last week.
Whiteley residents claim they pay a fortune in council tax and want to see lollipop patrols sorted out by the council.
Angry mum, Andrea Booth, who has two children at Whiteley County Primary School, said: "It's like we have been kicked in the teeth.
"We have been told it's our responsibility but most of us just can't do it. I would love the luxury of being able to walk my children to school and help them cross but I don't have the time. Most parents here work full-time as Whiteley is an expensive place to live."
She added: "I think it's the council that should be organising the provision of lollipop patrols - that's what we pay our taxes for. A lot of the parents are angry about this. We find it insulting."
In Tuesday's Daily Echo, Cllr Woodward said parents should come forward as "their children's safety should be their biggest motivation".
Answering the angry response from some parents, he said: "I'd like to ask these parents where they think lollipop patrols will come from in the first place. These crossings are always run by members of the community and parents, the county council cannot just push out a robot."
But Hampshire County Council said it didn't have to be just parents who fill lollipop posts.
A spokespman said: "We cannot force people to do it and unfortunately we are not in a position of having a bank of people available to fill vacant posts. We'd be happy to consider applications."
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