Village faces race against the clock to recruit crossing patroller

Following cuts to school crossing patrollers across Perth and Kinross, a Carse of Gowrie village has issued a plea to fill their position before it’s too late.

Inchture Primary School has been without a patroller since October 2018 and the proposals, approved in private last month, would see all positions vacant for a year axed.

Unless the position is filled before this autumn, the school will see itself without a patroller permanently – something that worries Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey.

He said: “We now find ourselves in a ridiculous position where crossing patroller provision is not decided based on evidence about children’s safety but based on whether or not any suitable applicant applied for the post in the prior year.

“In Inchture, the crossing patroller vacancy has been open since October 2018 meaning that residents face a race against time to find an applicant. We shouldn’t find ourselves in this predicament.”

An Inchture parent council spokesperson said: “Inchture Primary has been fortunate to have had some lovely crossing patrollers over the years.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed seeing their crossing patroller everyday and this is a service they greatly miss.

“It would be wonderful if this vacancy could be filled and the children guided safely to school once more.”

The current position advertised on Tayside Contracts website is set to expire at the end of this week.

The Courier contacted Tayside Contracts for clarity on whether or not there has been interest in the Inchture position but the organisation did not respond.