Top Of The Lollipops! Vale Of Glamorgan Council’s Crossing Patrol Winners Announced

The unsung heroes guiding Vale youngsters safely across our roads twice a day have been given the recognition they deserve. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the recent Vale Road Safety Awards, an annual event held at the Council’s Dock Offices, those working on school crossing patrols throughout the county were recognised and rewarded for their contribution to road safety. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The co-ordinators and volunteers of the Kerbcraft Child Pedestrian Training Scheme were also thanked during this year’s presentation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The top award – School Crossing Patrol of the Year – was awarded to Sandra Riggott, an extremely popular, and well-known, member of the Colcot Primary School community. A worthy winner of the title, Sandra, in addition to carrying out her regular duties, often visits the school to speak to the children about road safety, and about her job as a school crossing patrol officer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other award-winning school crossing patrol winners included Helen Wilkinson, who won the prize for Barry. Helen has worked in the Vale since 2010, starting her career in Llantwit Major. She has kindly helped the Road Safety Team over the past year by temporarily covering another site at St Helen’s Junior School on Tynewydd Road, where she has also proved to be very popular. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

David Regan was the winner for Penarth, Sully & Dinas Powys. David has worked as a Vale ‘lollipop man’ for just over two years – part of a unique husband and wife patrol team in Penarth! He helps the students of St Cyres, amongst others, on Redlands Road, where he’s already made a great impression with parents and children alike. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the Rural Vale area award, which covers Rhoose, St Athan, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge, the winner was named as Alex Daw. She has worked at a busy crossing location in Llantwit Major for more than 13 years – a very conscientious officer who can be relied upon by all attending the new ‘21st Century School’, Ysgol Y Ddraig. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Furthermore, a special award was presented to Megan Blayney on behalf of all the volunteers at Kerbcraft Child Pedestrian Training Scheme. After helping out at Rhws Primary School previously, Megan has been a great help at Ysgol Y Deri this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The winners were then treated to a buffet and fun road safety quiz. Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Building Services, Highways & Transportation, Councillor Peter King, thanked everyone for attending the presentation. He said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The School Crossing Patrol Service and Kerbcraft Schemes were established in recognition of the need to keep children safe whilst out and about, on and near our busy roads. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The success of any scheme relies upon the commitment and dedication of the individuals involved. Standing in the pouring rain and watching drivers, whilst teaching a child road safety and providing a safe crossing location, takes a very dedicated and enthusiastic individual.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​