Council leader suggests public fill lollipop roles

Volunteers could be called upon to help ensure pupils in Aberdeenshire get safely to school once the council axes all of its crossing patrollers.

The posts were lost as part of harsh budget cuts last month to save £436,000 over the next year.

The region’s lollipop men and women will finish up when schools break for the summer.

But the decision has caused an uproar among concerned parents who fear for their children’s safety.

A petition, which has gathered more than 3,500 signatures, was set up urging the council to overturn the decision, with petitioners calling the service “absolutely essential”.

Dozens of protestors gathered in Portlethen this month to fight the move.

However, council leader Gillian Owen insists it’s up to parents and carers to see pupils get to school safely.

“There are only crossing patrollers in 35 of our 149 primary schools currently,” she said. “We are by no means the only council to have removed or to be considering removing this service.

“That said, Aberdeenshire

Council will continue its road safety educational programmes in schools and discuss the potential for additional traffic calming and/or roads safety measures.”

The Tory councillor has previously said she hoped helpful locals might fill some of the gaps left in services by the recent cuts.

And she believes volunteers helping with school crossing patrols could be among the possibilities.

She said: “Absolutely, community based schemes could provide real value to those who would like a service to be retained.”

Hertfordshire County Council and Devon County Council currently run road crossing volunteer schemes.

Residents in Hertfordshire don’t need any experience and are asked to give up 35 minutes of their time in mornings and afternoons five days a week.

While in Devon, volunteer school crossing marshals are “employed” and managed by schools.

Aberdeenshire Council made a raft of cuts in a bid to plug a £35.45 million black hole.

But despite such savings, Mrs Owen said it remains focused on investing in communities.

The council leader also hit out at claims young people would be most at risk following the cuts.

She said: “We are spending over £400m on education services – so reports of ‘children being hardest hit’ in our budget is simply not true.

“Education is by far the highest percentage of our annual budget and we continue to invest in our young people as our highest priority.”

SUPPORT: Parents from Portlethen Primary School held a peaceful protest with lollipop lady Pamela Gartshore. Picture by Kami Thomson.