A beloved lollipop man has been ordered to stop high-fiving schoolchildren as they cross the road after council officials deemed the practice a safety risk and traffic disruption.
Neil Cotton, 57, who has worked as a school crossing patrol officer for two years in Howden, was instructed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to cease the friendly gesture at Cross Keys Corner junction.
The council claimed the high-fives pose a “distraction” that could prevent children from learning proper road safety procedures.
Cotton revealed in a social media post that he was told “it upsets some drivers having to wait another 10 seconds” whilst he greeted pupils from local infant, junior and secondary schools.
Neil Cotton has been told to stop high fiving children
BBC
The now-deleted post sparked widespread criticism from parents and motorists alike, with many condemning the council’s stance as excessive.
“I think it’s wrong. Why shouldn’t he, what’s wrong with it? It puts a smile on the kids’ faces. My son does it all the time. But now he gets upset because he’s not allowed to do it,” mother Kirsty Wilcox told BBC Look North.
Fellow parent Theresa Holt called the decision “silly”, adding: “It takes literally seconds and it gives that child that little bit of happiness. He’s great with my little boy and he sees him as a friendly face.”
Even motorists defended Cotton, with driver Tony Brooke branding the ban “absurd” and “crazy”.
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East Riding of Yorkshire Council defended its position in a statement, insisting that road safety must take priority.
“It is vitally important that children learn to cross the road safely, concentrating without any distractions, walking carefully and being vigilant of the traffic,” the council stated.
Officials confirmed that one of their officers had spoken with Cotton to remind him about avoiding distractions during crossings.
“However, we are confident they will continue doing a fantastic job and they are much appreciated,” the council added.
Cotton also disclosed that he had been instructed not to help guide larger vehicles around the junction due to potential legal liability concerns if an accident occurred.
The controversy has united the local community in support of Cotton, with parents praising his positive impact on their children’s daily routines.
Niccie Downes responded to Cotton’s post by thanking him for doing “an amazing job” and calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous”.
“Finn thinks it’s great when you high-five him in passing, which I’m sure all the others do,” she wrote on social media.
Another motorist, Michael Dalton, suggested the ban represented “political correctness going crazy again”, adding: “As a driver, we need to be a bit more courteous, certainly at school times.”