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Council 'Scrooges' ban lollipop man's tinsel

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:28 AM on 10th December 2008

A lollipop man has been ordered to remove tinsel from his STOP sign in case it distracts drivers and puts children in danger.

Pupils at Berrywood Primary School in Hedge End, near Southampton, sobbed when the decoration was taken off Kevin Simpson's placard after council officials banned it.

An anonymous passer-by had complained the decoration might obscure the sign.

Stunned parents are now mounting a campaign to allow Mr Simpson to put his tinsel back. They plan to wave banners outside the school and are starting a petition.

The popular father-of-two, who has been doing the job for three years, hopes their campaign will be successful and he will be able to bring festive joy back to his crossing patrol.

Last year Mr Simpson put tinsel round the neck of the lollipop and there were no complaints. This year he decided to extend the decoration further down the pole and round the edge of the circular stop sign.

He said: 'The sign could still be seen very clearly and I also wear distinctive uniform so there is no way I would put the children in danger.

'After all this is the festive season and it is only for a couple of weeks. It is just a bit of fun and they can have laugh on their way to school. When I was told the tinsel had to go I was in tears and so were the children.'

Mother-of-two Maria Ritzema blasted council officers, saying: 'The tinsel was not excessive and I was incensed when I heard it had to be removed.

'We, the parents of Berrywood schoolchildren, believe the world has gone made and Kevin's bosses must be Scrooges.
'The decoration is only for a couple of weeks. The tinsel is highly visible and it was contributing to the festive atmosphere, brightening up the dull winter mornings for the children.'

Sarah Miller, 36, who has two children at the school, said: 'I think it is a shame because the children loved to see the tinsel round the lollipop.

'There were a lot of sad faces when it had to be removed.'

Another mum, 35 year old Louise Mulshaw, said: 'This decision by the powers that be is absolutely ridiculous - the tinsel did not affect the safety situation at all.'

Berrywood School said it was not aware that tinsel had been banned.

Mr Simpson's bosses at Hampshire County Council insisted there were strict guidelines governing dress codes for lollipop men and women.

However council leader, Ken Thornber, said he would look into the case.

He said: 'It's nice to see this lollipop man is trying to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer.
'They do such a vital job and it would be a shame if they could not have some festive fun.

'While I do not know the full details of this matter and I haven't seen the stick, I do know there are guidelines to ensure the safety of children using the crossings as well as the safety of motorists and our school crossing patrol staff.

'Any rules and dress codes are about ensuring the safety of children and they are there for legal and insurance reasons.

'But I'd want to be sure officers were not being over-zealous in their interpretation and to see if a balance can be struck between festive fun and road safety.'

I suspect that the problem, if there really is one, is in the legal definition of a STOP sign. If covering the 'lollipop' with tinsel means that it no longer meets that definition then the consequences are obvious

Pupils at Berrywood Primary School in Hedge End, near Southampton, sobbed when the decoration was taken off Kevin Simpson's placard after council officials banned it.