A SCHOOL is backing a campaign to get a lollipop lady on a road near a primary school which is being used as a "racetrack".

Parents, councillors and residents are pushing to get a lollipop lady along Little Wheatley Chase. Rayleigh, just outside Our Lady of Ransom Primary School, to allow their children to safely walk to school.

Caroline McKeown, mum of two, lives opposite the school but still feels the need to walk with her children due to the speed cars drive along the road.

The 42-year-old, of Little Wheatley Chase, said: “There is no lollipop man or lady so I cannot allow my child to walk the short distance to school as I would like because cars often speed up along this long straight road.

“Something needs to be done. Even if children are careful a car wouldn’t see them and wouldn’t be able to stop in time.

“It’s just the children. It terrifies me. I still walk to school with my kids and I live across the road, That’s how dangerous I feel it is. Nothing ever seems to slow the cars down. I have clocked them going at 60mph.”

Paul Parascandolo, headteacher at Our Lady of Ransom Primary school, said a lollipop lady would be "invaluable" to the safety of the children.

He said: “We are on quite a long road that then curves around so the cars do race up and down here.

“We haven’t got any speed bumps. People park in very bad places and it’s a very busy road.

“It’s always been a concern that it’s quite dangerous and we would really like to see a lollipop lady there. That would be wonderful.”

Resident and local activist James Newport is campaigning to solve the safety concern for local parents.

The 40-year-old, of Cheapside West, Rayleigh, said: “Our Lady of Ransom School in Little Wheatley is a popular primary with good results, but some parents are concerned that Little Wheatley’s Chase which fronts the school is becoming dangerous.

“Drivers in a rush can make mistakes and inevitably parents fear for their children’s safety.

“At the least we need a lollipop crossing attendant as soon as possible. In the longer term I think we may need some sort of speed calming measures.

Mr Newport is investigating whether the Churchill Lollipoppers scheme could help the parents. This helps schools with funding for such schemes.

Cheryl Roe, chairman of the environment committee at Rayleigh Town Council, feels a lollipop lady is needed.

The councillor said: “Little Wheatley’s is a rat run and there is a school along that road.

“I know people park awkwardly and I know they have been looking for a lollypop lady there for a long time. I can totally understand why they want one down there. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education and lifelong learning, said: “This site was assessed last year but does not meet the set criteria required for a council-funded crossing patrol.”

Residents and parents are can support the Churchill Lollipopers scheme by visiting churchill.com/lollipoppers and nominating the school.