Lollipop lady thanks public after more than 270 sign petition

A lollipop lady facing possible redundancy as part of West Berkshire Council’s proposals to save £11m has thanked the public for their “overwhelming support”.
More than 270 people have signed a petition to ‘save’ 74-year-old Wendy Bird, whose job is under threat owing to the council’s plans to withdraw all of its £16,000 funding for school patrols.
Outraged parents and residents have warned that “children could die” without Mrs Bird, who is employed by the council and has been patrolling the busy crossing outside Fir Tree Primary School, Newbury, for the past 26 years.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News this week, she said: “I want to say a massive thank you to all the lovely people who have supported me, it’s been overwhelming.
“I genuinely didn’t expect anything like this and it has been quite humbling. I’ll just have to wait and see what happens now but I really hope I stay. I love my job.”
A spokeswoman for Britain's biggest trade union, Unison, which led a campaign to stop cuts to patrols in 2011, said: “Despite the clear evidence that they save lives, councils across the country are cutting their school crossing patrol services in a bid to save money.
“We believe this is a false economy- lollipop ladies and men are low paid workers, earning on average £3000 a year.
“Not only do they provide an essential service to our children and young people by making our roads safer, but for many children they play a key role in teaching basic road safety and awareness which they will continue to use throughout their lives.”
To ‘Save Wendy’, visit http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/west-berkshire-council-newbury-berkshire-cancel-the-2014-proposed-redundancy-of-local-lollipop-lady