Fury as another lollipop man faces the chop
MSP leads outcry
The axe is set to fall on another popular East Kilbride lollipop man just months after it appeared his job was saved.
South Lanarkshire Council say Jim McCulloch, who has helped youngsters from St Kenneth’s a n d Ki r k t o n h o l me p r i mar y schools safely cross Stewartfield Crescent at i t s junction with Lymekilns for the last nine years, will be removed later this month.
In April, after it was a n n o u n c e d t hat 2 2 l o l l i p o p s t af f were t o be c ut, parents c e l e brat e d a f t e r t he c ouncil re v eal ed t hey would re main pending a review.
Last week we revealed that Maxwellt on Pr i mar y S c hool pupils and parents were furious to learn that popular lollipop man David Lang will be removed from Maxwellton Avenue.
Former East Kilbr i de West councillor and current Central S c ot l a nd Tor y MSP Graham Simpson has hit out.
“Before the local elections this was put to one side and now just a few months later it’s back,” he said.
“It must have been decided that it was too tricky to deal with before an election and it is now for the SNP administration to step in and sort something out.
“It’s not a matter of money, it’s about road safety. Children have to be safe.
“These men who are being cut are not just commodities that you can get rid of – they provide a vital service.”
South Lanarkshire Council’s head of roads and transportation services, Gordon Mackay, said: “A number of patrollers will be removed on a gradual basis, where it is appropriate to do so.
“These predominantly cover locations where there are a small number of children using the patrollers.
“Risk assessments have been carried out at locations where i t was proposed t o remove a patroller to ensure roads could still be crossed safely provided that reasonable care is taken and that children are accompanied by an adult if required.”