A CAMPAIGN to make vital safety improvements to the crossing point at the scene of a fatal accident will take a significant step forward next week.The Journal can today reveal that a second crossing patrol officer is set to work in tandem with another lollipop patrol from next week - as a long-running campaign to Make It Safe for Mantha's Sake received some heartening good news.

A CAMPAIGN to make vital safety improvements to the crossing point at the scene of a fatal accident will take a significant step forward next week.

The Journal can today reveal that a second crossing patrol officer is set to work in tandem with another lollipop patrol from next week - as a long-running campaign to Make It Safe for Mantha's Sake received some heartening good news.

A year and a half after Samantha Castledine was killed on the A12 Yarmouth Road, near the junction of Hollingsworth Road, a community campaign that has been backed by the Castledine family, The Journal, Waveney MP Bob Blizzard and more than 5,000 people who signed petitions, vital safety changes will now take place.

From next week, a second crossing patrol assistant will be in place meaning that both lanes will be stopped in tandem before anyone can set foot on the road.

This will mean that pedestrians will no longer have to wait in the central island, which was dubbed “a pen” by Mr Blizzard as traffic is stopped on both carriageways of the A12.

After months of extensive efforts to find a suitable candidate for the position, Suffolk County Council's school crossing patrol manager Mary Jarrett this week confirmed they had successfully appointed a second lollipop patrol.

“We are very pleased that we have been able to recruit a patrol officer to now enable the point on the A12 to operate as a tandem patrol,” a Suffolk County Council spokesperson said.

“In doing so, this will mean that children and parents will no longer have to wait on the central island during the crossing. We would ask drivers to be aware of the new type of operation.”

Mr Blizzard said: “I'm delighted that someone has come forward and been appointed. In discussions with Samantha's family, we agreed that this would be the safest solution. However it does need to be backed up by speed reduction measures and I am still pursuing the Highways Agency on this matter.

“Well done to Mary Jarrett for supporting our children's safety,” Mr Blizzard added.