While all the congratulating is going on for the Crossing Patrol Officers (lollipop ladies and men) saved, spare a thought for the children at Winterbourne Valley First School, Winterbourne Abbas.

This must be the only First School on a main trunk road and probably the busiest road in West Dorset but we are one of the schools losing our officer. Day in, day out she risks her life helping children and grown ups cross the A35 because, despite having a lights controlled crossing, cars and lorries speed through the village and go through red lights even, on occasion, while she is still on it in her full, day-glow yellow uniform. Added to that is a crossing that doesn’t register the presence of people waiting to cross unless they are practically standing in the road.

And just wait until the winter months because last year the crossing buttons froze and wouldn’t work.

Getting rid of the officer will mean extra money being spent on improving the crossing controls and changing the school transport arrangements of children coming from the west so they don’t have to use an unsupervised crossing.

And of course the council admitting a u-turn on a decision they made some years back, about needing a Crossing Patrol Officer on this crossing because the junction near to it was so dangerous.

Lesley Lewis, Butt Farm Close, Winterbourne Abbas, Dorchester