Battle is on to save lollipop patrols across Wirral

Nov 4 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

CAMPAIGNERS have launched a fight to save school crossing patrols across Wirral.

Throughout this week they will be protesting outside schools that will be affected by a council decision which will see a sixth of the borough’s 113 “lollipop” crossing patrols cut to save £50,000.

Last night the headteacher of one of the schools affected by the proposals described the cost-cutting plans as “ludicrous”.

Rose Littler, head teacher of Liscard Primary, said she had only found out about the plans to cut their crossing patrol last week from the media.

Mrs Littler said she was “very concerned about the proposed cuts which will put our children at risk”.

She said: “Our crossing patrol is more than just that – she is one of part of our school.

“We are a large school with 700 children and taking our crossing patrol away just seems ludicrous.”

As revealed in the Daily Post last week, secret plans by the authority mean 18 of the much-loved patrols, which help children get to and from school safely, will be lost to save the authority £50,000.

It will affect many areas including Heswall, Moreton, Upton, Wallasey, Oxton, Pensby, Claughton and Birkenhead.

Yesterday afternoon the process of building up a petition began outside Liscard Primary School.

Leah Fraser, the prospective Conservative candidate for Wallasey said: “There wasn’t a single mum or dad in favour of these cuts.

“Parents were queuing up to sign and show their support for the lollipop lady at Liscard Primary school and we expect a similar response at schools around Wallasey and Moreton the rest of this week.

“Road safety is a really important issue for parents with young children. These cuts must be stopped.”

The authority said surveys had identified which crossing would be axed based on the numbers of pedestrians during peak times, compared with the number of vehicles travelling on the roads.

In a statement the authority said: “The council will provide full training to schools wishing to provide voluntary staff to patrol their school crossing.”

liammurphy