Wardens call on the council to cuts
‘Axing patrols will put children’s lives at risk’
CROSSING wardens say children’s lives will be put at risk if funding for their services is withdrawn.
Staffordshire County Council is planning to cut funding for all its 248 school crossing patrols from September next year, as it attempts to bridge a £35million funding gap.
The proposal has sparked outrage among communities and almost 7,000 people have signed an online petition opposing it.
Now crossing wardens from across the area have spoken out against the planned cuts, which they say will put children in danger.
Pam Salt, aged 60, from Leek, patrols near Beresford Memorial First School. She said: “I think it’s ridiculous to cut the funding. What price do you put on children’s lives?
“Without a crossing warden it will be an accident waiting to happen here. I cross children from four schools – Beresford, Churnet View, Leek High and Leek First - and it’s so busy.
“It only takes a split second for an accident to happen. It breaks my heart thinking about it.”
Pat Walker, aged 67, of Leek, is the crossing warden on Springfield Road, near Leek First School.
She said: “I get children from four schools coming this way and I get a lot crossing. It’s going to be very difficult for them to cross if I’m not here because it’s such a busy road.
“I think it’s the wrong thing to cut the funding – it will be dangerous.”
Kerry Vernon, aged 44, from Leek, patrols on Buxton Road near Leek First School. She said: “This particular site is a main road and a crossroads. There’s nothing to slow the traffic down and alert drivers that children are crossing.
“I get pupils from Churnet View walking to school on their own. They are distracted talking to their friends or on their phones, they take chances. I see near misses every day. It will definitely affect children’s safety if there is no one to help them cross.”
Brian Harrison, aged 77, of Leek, crosses children at Spring Gardens near Westwood First School and St Edward’s Academy. He said: “I’m certain it would put children’s lives at risk if there wasn’t a crossing patrol here. The amount of traffic seems to be increasing every year.
“I think it’s a strange thing to cut the funding. I’ve been doing this for 16 years and without it life wouldn’t be the same.”
The county council, which would save £540,000 as a result of the move, would still provide training, uniforms and equipment if alternative funding is found to keep the services running. Council leaders have suggested patrols could continue with funding from schools or parish councils, but there are fears that in many areas money will not be available for this.
The Post & Times spoke to parents in Leek, who said they believe cutting funding for the crossing patrols is the wrong decision.
Thirty-eight-year-old Stephen Chamberlain, of Abbots Road, who has a five-year-old daughter at Beresford Memorial CE First School, said: “They shouldn’t get rid of them. We use the crossings all the time. Novi Lane is very busy in the mornings, and the crossing on Springfield Road for Leek First School is also important because that’s such a busy road. Children’s safety should be a priority for the council.”
Emma Wood, also of Abbots Road, has two daughters - aged five and eight - at Beresford. The 42-year-old said: “The junction on Novi Lane is so busy. People are stopping to use the shop and there are deliveries - there is a lot of traffic in a small space.
“I understand the council needs to cut spending but children’s safety is so important.”
Damien Walmsley, aged 29, of Osprey Close, said: “I have a four-yearold daughter at Beresford. Getting rid of the crossing wardens could put children’s safety at risk, particularly in places like this. I think it’s ridiculous to expect schools or communities to raise the money themselves to pay to keep the patrols.”
Biddulph town councillor Jill Salt launched an online petition in September, following the announcement of the proposed cuts. It attracted hundreds of signatures within hours, and now has more than 6,850 supporters.
Mrs Salt said: “The petition has had a lot of support which is encouraging. It’s a county-wide petition and people feel very strongly about the issue.
“I can’t believe that the county council think it is acceptable to do this. A price is being put on our children’s heads.”
Council leaders say the proposal to cut funding for the crossing patrols has been made ‘reluctantly.’ Helen Fisher, cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We are facing a budget shortfall of £35m, so face some very difficult decisions about what non-statutory services we can continue to fund. Very reluctantly this includes the school crossing patrol service.
“All our patrols are amazing and that’s why if the proposals do go ahead, we hope communities and businesses will step forward to fund as many roles as possible.”
The public consultation on the council’s budget proposals, including the crossing patrol cuts, continued until December 31.
The final budget proposals will be presented by the county council in February.