WORRIED parents have criticised the decision to remove a lollipop lady from a busy road.

The lollipop lady who used to walk children across Mersea Road, by the Grapes pub, was moved to Canterbury Road, to cover a crossing outside St George’s Primary School.

The decision by Essex County Council followed the death of lollipop lady Doreen Fitt, who used to cover Canterbury Road.

The council claims crossings in Bourne Road and Canterbury Road, which are both manned by lollipop ladies, are higher priorities than Mersea Road.

But parents whose children walk to the primary school are worried for their safety.

Jaki Whyte, 34, whose son, Reuben, goes to St George’s, said: “I’m disabled in a mobility scooter and it does help to have the lollipop lady because the cars go so quickly.

“Canterbury Road is dangerous as well, but they should have hired someone new.”

Councillor Dave Harris, who raised the issue with the county council, said: “I’m pressurising the council to act before a child gets injured or killed.

“The council claims it has been trying to get someone to cover this crossing but have no takers.

“I know there’s a crossing, but you knowwhat kids are like and cars don’t always stop when they should.”

Ray Gooding, the councillor responsible for education and lifelong learning, said: “Both the nearby Canterbury Road and Bourne Road crossings are higher priority sites than Mersea Road, which is located on a zebra crossing, and resources have been prioritised accordingly.

“We have received no comments from St George’s infants or junior schools or parents but, given the difficulty in recruiting school crossing patrol officers, would welcome proposals from the community to cover the site.”