A HEADTEACHER has turned lollipop lady to guide her pupils across a busy road after Wessex Water turned off traffic lights outside Weymouth's biggest school.

The water company's £2 million programme of works - which transport chiefs fear is strangling the town - has today come under fire from furious Wey Valley School headteacher Marcia Headon who claims children's lives are being put at risk.

After being told the pedestrian crossing will be out of action until at least Christmas, Mrs Headon took matters into her own hands yesterday and personally supervised the crossing of hundreds of pupils across Dorchester Road when school finished for the day.

She said: "I was absolutely horrified when I heard about the crossing.

"I was immediately on the telephone to the police and the county council but there's not a lot either of them can do.

"Wessex Water has been very good so far but this has been sprung on us.

"There are 1,360 children at this school and many of them use the crossing.

"I'll go out when I can to help them cross but I can't be there all the time."

Mrs Headon spoke as it was revealed businesses were suffering as drivers face horrendous queues while work continues at Broadwey to replace a water main.

Weymouth and Portland's public transport forum has written to Wessex Water expressing concern at the disruption that is being caused and the "perceived slow pace" of the work.

The forum explains that buses are facing severe delays - with some services not running - and that taxi fares are increasing by £2 to £3 per journey.

Operators fear the delays could put people off from using public transport altogether.

Bill Landucci, operations director of bus firm Sureline, said: "We're having to cope the best we can but the work is causing no end of disruption.

"It's confusing the way the traffic is being controlled.

"Buses out in the morning yesterday had no problems but on the way back from Dorchester the queues went back as far as the Ridgeway."

Martyn Sheward, chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Taxi Owners' Association, said: "It really is a nightmare out there.

"Waiting times are increasing and customers are paying 10p every 30 seconds.

"There will be times when drivers may stop the meter but at the end of the day we have to make a living."

A Wessex Water spokeswoman said the company could not yet comment on the transport forum letter.

She said the work was continuing as normal and that extra workers could not be brought in because of health and safety rules.

The spokesman said the pedestrian crossing had been turned off to help traffic flows.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said the school had been issued with fluorescent jackets so that teachers could supervise pupils crossing the road but he stressed it would take five weeks to put a lollipop person in place.

He added that a refuge may be built in the centre of the road to help pupils.

Have your say

Tomorrow the Echo will be meeting Dave Elliott, divisional manager for Wessex Water, to discuss the Dorchester Road scheme.

If you would like to put any questions to Mr Elliott then please e-mail them to us at: newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk by 10am tomorrow at the latest.