Warren of Putney to pay for Jack who manages the Erpingham Road crossing
Jack on duty on Erpingham Road
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A Putney estate agent has stepped in to ensure that a lollipop man threatened by funding cuts keeps his job.
Warren of Putney are paying the costs of providing the service for the next six months to allow for a longer term solution to be found.
Jack the lollipop man is know to most who live in the grid between the Upper and Lower Richmond Roads and by parents and pupils alike who attend All Saints' Church School. He has been the lollipop man on Erpingham Road come rain, sun and snow for eleven years.
His role has been funded by the Friends of All Saints' School (FOASS) but they have announced that they cannot continue to do so beyond next week when this half term ends.
Warren have donned their Super Hero capes and stepped in to the breach offering a funding bridge. Mike Crowther, Managing Partner at Warren The Putney Estate Agent told this website, "Tim Warren and I felt that this role was too valuable an asset to lose. Jack has been a fixture for so long and has for years safely escorted hundreds of children, including my own, daily across that difficult junction We have therefore agreed to fund Jack's role for six months, in which time we hope the schools and or community will find a long term solution.”
Huge thanks to @WarrenPutneySal for years of sponsoring Jack the lollipop man in #putney #sw15 on Erpingham Road. A truly #local #estateagency with a big heart. @AllSaintsSW15 Pls Retweet
— Sophie Holdcroft (@sophieholdcroft) October 11, 2018
Historically the lollipop role was paid for by the Council, however, Wandsworth Council ceased funding this service in January 2013 expecting schools to pay. A Council spokesperson in 2012 told this site, ""At a time when statutory town hall services are facing severe budget constraints, it is only fair that schools which benefit from this service are asked if they are prepared to pay for it". Later that year the Council stated, “the fairly modest sums involved are coming from funds raised by the school or PTA. The money can not come from learning and teaching budgets and so this change will not have any effect on children's education.”
If a local company would like to fund Jack's role in the future they should contact Gemma Davidson the senior road safety officer at Wandsworth council.
Thamesfield Cllr John Locker said: "We welcome the news that Warren Estate Agents of Putney have offered to fund the lollipop crossing for the next 6 months. This will give time for all involved to look at longer term solutions".
We have asked the school for comment.
October 12, 2018
