https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/lollipop-wardens

Schoolchildren safety fear over fewer lollipop men and women
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/lollipop-wardens

councils foi laurence-sleator lollipop-ladies lollipop-men pru safety schools vis

Last synced: 5 months ago
JSON representation

Schoolchildren safety fear over fewer lollipop men and women

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/lollipop-wardens
• Owner: BBC-Data-Unit
• Created: 2019-01-02T09:40:57.000Z (over 7 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2019-01-02T11:42:18.000Z (over 7 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-05-17T13:07:52.506Z (about 1 year ago)
• Topics: councils, foi, laurence-sleator, lollipop-ladies, lollipop-men, pru, safety, schools, vis
• Homepage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46514670
• Size: 112 KB
• Stars: 0
• Watchers: 4
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          
# Schoolchildren safety fear over fewer lollipop men and women

![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/3E02/production/_104747851_lollipopdown-nc.png)

In December 2018 we created some analysis and visualisation to support [a story by the BBC Political Research Unit's **Laurence Sleator** on cuts to the number of lollipop men and women near schools](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46514670).

The number of them funded by councils in Great Britain has fallen by 1,500, almost a quarter, in five years, figures obtained by the BBC showed.

The data for the story was obtained through the use of Freedom of Information requests to local authorities.

The BBC contacted every local authority with responsibility for lollipop people. Two thirds of councils (133) replied with comparable data, meaning the real loss of staff could be substantially higher.

As this was not collected by the data unit, we cannot share it here.

The piece was also [followed up for younger audiences by Newsround](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46604588) and [the Daily Mail used it too](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6510225/Campaigners-warn-lives-risk-cash-strapped-councils-cut-1-500-lollipop-ladies.html), including a credit for the BBC.

## Quotes and interviews

* Martin Tett, transport spokesman, Local Government Association

* Stephen Twigg, Labour MP (school safety campaigner)

* Spokesperson, Newcastle City Council

* Spokesperson, Kent Council

* Joshua Harris, director of campaigns, Brake (road safety charity)

* Rosaleen Littlejohn, lollipop warden

## Visualisation

![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/8C22/production/_104747853_lollipopline-nc.png)

* Bar chart: fall in council-funded lollipop wardens, 2013-2018 by authority (10 biggest drops)

* Line chart: fall in council-funded lollipop wardens, 2013-2018 totals