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A rethink of law may not save lollipop man
A reprieve for elderly school crossing guards forced to retire because of red tape is still on the cards – but it may not come in time to save one popular lollipop man.
Under council rules, lollipop workers must retire at 75 because they no longer get personal accident insurance.
That led to protests from staff, parents and pupils at St Andrew's Primary School, Ashton, Preston, after it emerged former police detective Ken Morley, 74, would have to hang up his lollipop for the final time in November.
County Hall has now told the Evening Post that efforts to thrash out a way forward, which would allow the workers to continue in their jobs, were continuing despite a change in county council leadership.
The wheels were originally set in motion by former Labour organisational development boss Tom Burns, who lost his seat in May.
Jo Turton, executive director for the environment at LCC, confirmed: "This is an insurance issue and is something the county council is currently looking into."
But the authority has not set out a timetable for completion of the efforts, which have raised fears any resolution would not come in time to keep Mr Morley in his job.
When investigations into changing the rules were launched in March, one option discussed was giving workers over the age of 75 a medical every six months in the hope it would convince insurance firms to continue providing personal accident cover.
Mr Morley, who has been working at the school for seven years, said: "It is sad really because I'm fit and they are short of people.
"I have not heard anything.
"I thought I would wait until we go back and ring my boss up to ask him if anything has been sorted out.
"I'm hoping that they will see sense – I'll have three medicals if they want."
There has been anger among staff, pupils and parents because many other councils – including Liverpool, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Cheshire authorities – do not have an upper limit.
There is also a countywide shortage of volunteers for school crossing guards.
>>U-turn expected on lollipop age limit
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
