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Stop Lollipop Cutbacks: Residents join bid to save lollipop patrols
Neighbourhood councillors Bella Saltmarsh, John Shearman, John Peach, Pam Kreling, Adrian Miners and Marion Todd, support the calls to save lollipop patrollers at Monday nights meeting. Photo: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
ANGRY residents and ward councillors have backed calls to save city school crossing patrols.
The patrols are under threat as part of Peterborough City Council budget proposals.
But since the proposed measures were announced earlier this month, an Evening Telegraph campaign to keep the lollipop patrols has received backing from across the city - sign our Stop Lollipop Cutbacks online petition.
And at a meeting of the Central and East Neighbourhood Committee at Welland Primary School last night, there were more calls for the cuts to be dropped.
Simon Murray (42) from Dogsthorpe, who has a child at Newark Hill Primary School said: “We should be able to take our children to school safely.
“I have seen a lot of near misses at the school, and that is with the crossing patrols, so it would not be safe for children
“We are told that cutting the patrols would save £43,000 – but you cannot put a price on a child’s safety.
“I don’t think volunteers are a reasonable substitute. They would need training and insurance, so would cost money, and I don’t know if they would have the commitment.”
Kevin Ball, from the Welland Residents Association said: “There are a number of issues with traffic around schools as it is. You are putting more children’s lives at risk by cutting the services.”
Resident’s calls were echoed by ward councillors at the meeting.
East Ward councillor Marion Todd said: “I can’t support the budget in it’s current form, and I don’t think there are any councillors that can. I think it should be taken out of the budget so it can go through scrutiny and proper debate.”
Cllr Bella Saltmarsh, Dogsthorpe ward councillor said: “I do not think we should scrap crossing patrols.
“Safeguarding children has to be the highest priority.
“How can we justify spending £93,000 on the Olympic torch coming, and cut these patrols?”
At the end of the debate, park ward councillor and meeting chairman John Peach asked people to vote if they thought the proposal should be taken out of the budget - the suggestion was backed unanimously.
Cllr David Seaton, cabinet member for resources, said it was important for people to have their say, as the final decision had not been made.
He said potential replacements for lollipop patrollers included installing zebra or pelican crossings, or recruiting volunteers to help children across the road.
He also said it was important for the council to look at all 73 city schools individually to make the best use of funds.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
