School crossing risks to be assessed

Dec 20 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

RISK assessments are to be carried out at school crossings threatened with closure as part of budget cuts in Wirral.

The Daily Post revealed earlier this year that Wirral Council is planning to axe 18 lollipop men and women from across the borough to save £50k as part of wider budget cuts.

The move sparked outrage and a campaign led by Wallasey councillor Leah Fraser has been opposing the cuts which, it is claimed, will discourage parents from walking their children to school.

The campaigners say many parents will feel it is too dangerous and will choose to drive instead – even as the council renewed its own campaign to encourage more people to leave the car at home for the school run.

But a plan by Lib-Dem councillor Pat Williams could see some of the crossings saved through more detailed risk assessments.

Cllr Williams said she believed the decision to axe the crossings had been “a judgment made on inadequate information” and risk assessments would make a difference.

The former Mayor of Wirral said St Saviour’s school in her ward was an example of a decision to axe a crossing being made on too little information, and added: “I know for a fact that at least one of the private schools nearby was closed on the day they were assessing traffic on Holm Lane.

“People taking their children to that school would have made a significant difference and it needs to be looked at more carefully.”

But Cllr Fraser was dismissive of the plan, and said: “Clearly, the council no longer believes their own press releases.

“A few weeks ago, we were told the schools did not meet the criteria and that the council would instead work with the schools on vague ‘alternatives’ to lollipop ladies.

“Now, it seems, the criteria is out of the window and risk assessments will be carried out instead. It doesn’t take much assessment to see the risks for a six-year-old trying to cross a busy road.

“This is just the latest attempt to disguise the cuts to an essential service. Cutting lollipop ladies is not going to improve road safety around our schools.”

liammurphy