Hundreds of parents have signed a petition calling for a lollipop patrol to be restored outside their children’s school.

The last lollipop man at Briary Primary School resigned in 2014, and following a review Kent County Council decided that the zebra crossing in Greenhill Road was adequate.

But parents have staged protests calling for a new patrol to be funded by KCC, and say the road is dangerous for children who might be walking to school on their own or with younger siblings.

Mum-of-two Rachel Brooks has a child at the school and another at the pre-school.

She said: “KCC are saying it is down to the school to pay for it. But if they do they will have to take money away from elsewhere. We definitely need a new patrol at the crossing from a safety point of view.”

Parents outside the school also voiced their safety concerns.

Anne-Marie Evans said: “We used to be able to let children walk to school on their own, knowing there was a lollipop person here and they could cross safely.”

Mum-of-two Dawn McLean has supported the petition. She said: “I think it’s going to take someone being knocked over or seriously hurt before something changes. I think that’s wrong.

“With children in years 4, 5, and 6 walking to school, they sometimes don’t have a parent with them to assess the speed of the cars, so we need a lollipop patrol to help them.”

Mum-of-two Jo Brett says a lollipop patrol helps to regulate the flow of traffic could help ease congestion in other roads.

The parents’ online petition has so far attracted 177 signatures, and has been backed by local Ukip county councillors Brian MacDowall and Nick Bond.

In March, school head teacher Ray McDonagh wrote to them to express his concerns. Last week they held a meeting at the school to press the case.

Cllr MacDowall said he would support the parents’ campaign.

He told the Herne Bay Gazette: “We believe the reinstatement of a patrol is warranted in this case, and as it’s a highways issue it should be funded by KCC.

“Greenhill Road is a busy through road to Canterbury. A new lollipop person would get to know the children and parents, and could look out for their safety. It would help channel the children to the zebra crossing.”

KCC spokesman Ella Hughes said the authority followed national policy guidelines.

She said: “When the school crossing patrol person at Briary Primary School resigned we investigated the road and traffic conditions around the school in line with this policy.

The newly installed zebra crossing outside of the school is providing a permanent, safe crossing environment for local residents and their children, and thus the additional cost of operating a crossing patrol is not justifiable.

"However, we are keen to work with the school to ensure that students and their parents are clear about how to use this crossing properly and safely.”

What do you think? Email: hernebaygazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.