DISMAYED parents whose months-long calls for Barnsley Council to urgently replace a ‘vital’ crossing patrol have continued to go unanswered - leading councillors to issue a last-ditch plea for action following a spate of near-misses.

Parents at St John’s Primary School in Penistone are continuing to express their disappointment that the school is still without a crossing guard, after the long-standing post holder retired last summer.

Five months into the 2025/26 school year, councillors have clubbed together to back the parents in the hope of securing a long-term solution to the problem.

Councillor David Greenhough, who represents the Liberal Democrats, has been working with parents, the school and the council to attempt to resolve the matter.

However, he told the Chronicle there has been ‘absolutely zero interest’ in the advertised post - and blamed the ‘unattractive’ terms being advertised.

“I met with the parents again about the lack of a crossing guard at St John’s - we are all extremely disappointed that the council’s chief executive has not changed the contracted hours for the advertised positions,” he said.

“This has resulted in positions both here and elsewhere in the borough not being filled.

“I and the parents at St John’s believe the offer should be doubled to at least two hours a day, rather than the one hour currently offered.

“This is a relatively small cost to council but would ensure the safety of the young children.

“The council needs to act before any of the children get injured.

“I wrote to the council’s chief executive some months ago to suggest that the post was revised but despite this, there has been no change.”

The job search at Penistone began in October and offers candidates a five-hour per week role during term time at a rate of £12.85 to £13.05 an hour.

However, the vacancy remains open - prompting Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball to also urge the council to quicken up the process.

She added: “As a local parent I share serious safety concerns as a result of the ongoing absence of a school crossing guard outside St John’s Primary.

“Since September 2025, I’ve repeatedly raised these concerns directly with Barnsley Council, including exploring temporary solutions.

“The council’s assured me that they are continuing to advertise and recruit for the position, and I know such crossing guard positions are often difficult to fill.”

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said: “Our dedicated school crossing patrol for St John the Baptist Primary School retired after 16 years of outstanding service.

“It is proving difficult to find someone to fill this important vacancy, but I would like to reassure parents and carers that we are doing everything we can.

“The job is currently advertised on Barnsley Council’s website - we’ve produced posters that have been shared with local ward councillors, MPs and the school, and we’re encouraging people to share them on social media channels to help attract more interest.

“So far we have only had one applicant for the role and unfortunately they didn’t show up for the interview on the day.

“Sadly, this is something we experience quite often in the crossing patrol service - the split‑shift nature of the job can make it difficult for people who are trying to fit the role around other work.

“However I’d like to appeal to the community, if there is someone who could commit to taking on this important job in the mornings and afternoons during term-time, please get in touch via our website.

“We appreciate that the road can be busy, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times.

“We kindly ask that everyone take extra care and be considerate when parking near the school to help keep children safe.”

Petition launched for lower speed limit

LESS than a mile away, almost 2,000 pupils and parents have signed a petition in order for a 20mph speed limit to be brought in outside a busy high school.

Penistone Grammar School lodged the petition with Barnsley Council, which calls for the speed limit reduction.

The proposal will be reviewed by the council’s cabinet on February 18, the Chronicle understands, after it was signed by 1,378 pupils and 559 parents and carers.

Paul Crook, principal of Penistone Grammar School, said: “We appreciate Barnsley Council for providing a clear path for our community to raise these concerns.

“It is vital that the voices of our young people are considered in matters that directly affect their daily lives.

“The fact that 1,378 pupils have stood up to support this change shows how important this is to our school.

“In our discussions with the council, it has been noted that advisory limits are often ignored by inconsiderate drivers.

“For the safety of our children, we believe a mandatory, enforceable 20mph limit is the only reliable solution.

“This position is supported by government guidance, which encourages 20mph zones near schools - where there is clear community support.

“Our children’s safety is our highest priority, and to ensure this project moves forward - the school has offered to fundraise toward the implementation costs, demonstrating our commitment to working as partners with the local authority.”