The demonstrators filled a busy four-way junction in South Norwood last Friday (July 11) to protest Croydon Council’s decision to axe the borough’s remaining school crossing patrols by the end of the year.
The protest focused on supporting long-serving lollipop man Robert, who has helped children cross safely outside Cypress Primary School for over two decades.
The demonstration took place at the junction of Auckland Road and Sylvan Hill, one of six locations across the borough affected by Croydon Council’s decision.
Children from held signs and surrounded Robert in a show of appreciation, with chants of “We love you, Robert” heard as he continued the role he had undertaken for 23 years.
Sarah Watters, a local resident and parent of two children in Reception, said the turnout included about a third of her children’s class. Her children carried signs reading “The council want the lollipop man to go, say no” and “Lollipop man don’t go.”
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the crossing is used not only by Cypress pupils, but also by children attending Harris Academy South Norwood.
“This particular junction is pretty dangerous during drop-off and pick-up times,” she said.
“Even as an adult, it’s dangerous to cross there. I have nearly been hit trying to cross before. We’ve lived here for two years, and there have been seven crashes that we have seen in that time. There was a crash here on Wednesday.”
She added that despite the 20mph speed limit, drivers often ignore it due to a lack of enforcement.
“Everyone gets impatient at that four-way crossing, so without our lollipop man, it will be dangerous,” she said.
“They are genuinely endangering the lives of children by removing the lollipop patrols. It seems a really crazy thing to do to save not much money,” she added. “I feel like this decision is just an indicator of how little they care about road safety. It just does not seem like a priority for them.”
Fellow parent Hannah Thompson, who has children aged five and seven at Cypress, said the issue highlights wider concerns about local inequalities. She told the LDRS: “Wouldn’t it be amazing if child road safety decisions like this could be taken out of the remit of individual councils?
“Numerous other boroughs have lollipop people, so it feels like a postcode lottery depending on where you live.”
She added: “The protest was beautiful, calm and joyful. Hopefully, we brought to light the short-sightedness of cuts like these. And what a great way for elderly people to remain engaged in local society.”
Why are lollipop patrols being cut?
Croydon Council has said the cuts are part of a broader cost-saving effort and that school crossing patrols are a non-statutory service, meaning they are under no obligation to provide them. It also confirmed risk assessments have been completed and insists that road safety remains a priority.
The decision to end the patrols was approved in the 2024/25 budget, following a service review in 2022. Furthermore, the LDRS understands the remaining lollipop patrol guards have been handed their P45s.
In acknowledgement of the decision, Croydon said that some sites, including the one outside Cypress Primary, will benefit from alternative safety measures such as permanent crossings and Healthy School Street schemes.
However, when questioned by the LDRS, Croydon could not provide further details on the permanent crossings.
Labour’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, Rowenna Davis, joined the protest alongside Green Party candidate Peter Underwood and Liberal Democrat councillor Claire Bonham. The three described the demonstration as an example of cross-party support for retaining the borough’s remaining patrol officers.
Cllr Davis expressed concern about the loss of experienced staff who have worked in their roles for decades.
“These cuts save pennies, and our children’s safety is at stake,” she said, urging residents to support a petition calling for the patrols to be reinstated.
Mr Underwood said the decision puts children at risk and fails to address deeper concerns within the council. “It is financially stupid and morally wrong,” he said.
Claire Bonham, who represents Cypress Primary as the councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, also spoke out about the impact of the cuts on her ward and the wider community.
“Lollipop men and women are a valued part of the community, keeping children safe and providing a safe, reassuring presence for families on their way to school,” she told the LDRS.
“This feels like penny-pinching from the Tory Mayor, and I have written to him to set out my opposition to cutting these services from Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, and other locations around the borough,” she said.
