A PONTYPOOL school has taken the issue of child safety into its own hands, and forked out the cash itself to employ a school crossing patrol after Torfaen council cut its provision last year.

Victoria Primary School’s crossing patrol on Cwmavon Road, Abersychan, was among those lost when the local authority slashed patrols from 40 to 19, and scrapped the 17 lunchtime operations borough-wide.

But, so unhappy was the school that it has decided to pay the £1,864 needed per year to save it.

Head teacher Joy Dando said: “Parents were concerned as it’s a busy road, especially around school opening and closing times.

“We decided to fund the position on behalf of the children and the community to offer a safe place to cross.”

Lollipop, Sarah Morris, took up the position in 2008, and Ms Dando said that they were glad to keep her on as she is well-liked and is familiar to the parents and pupils.

“Any additional funding from the council to subsidise the position would be welcome as funding has to come out of the school budget, but when you weigh against keeping children safe then it is worth it,” she added.

Abersychan Cllr Wayne Tomlinson welcomed the news, adding it is “fantastic” that the school done this.

“It’s necessary to have a school crossing patrol as it is a very busy road so I am happy that the school has done this,” he added.

Last year parents branded the plans “ridiculous”.

Alix Jennings, 35, who takes her three children on the school run to the school said at the time: “It’s dangerous as cars speed down the road with drivers not realising how unpredictable children can be.

“These are children’s lives that are being put at risk, when it comes to children and cars then it’s an accidents waiting to happen and more needs to be done to prevent this.”

The school’s chairwoman of governors, Rita Wilkins, who walks her two grandchildren to school, then added: “It’s bad that the proposals do not set out an alternative to the crossing patrols, such as installing pelican crossings.

Speaking at the time, the executive member for neighbourhood services, John Cunningham, said: “All sites have been reviewed in-line with the national criteria and as a result certain patrols are no-longer justified.”