REBEL councillor Kevin Bennett has hit out at Warrington Borough Council for cutting funds for every school crossing “lollipop” patrol across the borough.
He claims the cuts will now present a real and serious danger to children in local communities, although the council says current services will remain in place, while other funding options are explored.
Kevin Bennett
Cllr Bennett, the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition councillor for Fairfield and Howley said: ““Every school crossing “lollipop” patrol in Warrington will have its funding by the council withdrawn this year!
“Our lollipop school crossing patrols are at risk because the council is cutting the entire budget for providing them. Staff members have told us they’ve already been given their notice. We must fight to save our “lollipop” men and women, so we know our school-children are safe when crossing the roads!
“I have been fighting long and hard over the last twelve months to stop this administration from making drastic cuts to our essential services. Twice since last summer I have run campaigns, specifically to save our ‘lollipop person’ for Marsh House Lane and now the whole of the funding for them has been cut.
“I am now planning to run a wider campaign to inform the people of Warrington.”
Cllr Bennet said all the Labour and Tory councillors voted to cut the lollipop crossings budget – and he was the only one who voted to save it.
But in response to Cllr Bennett a council spokesman said: “School crossing patrols perform a valuable public service in protecting our school children and the service will continue to be provided.
“We have already engaged with our schools on this issue and confirmed the current service arrangements will remain in place. We currently employ 19 school crossing patrol officers operating at 18 locations in the borough and this service will continue for the foreseeable future.
“Given the scale of budget cuts the council has faced since 2010 and the fact that we have had to reduce our budget by £93million, we will be also seeking additional and alternative sources of funding for the school crossing patrol service.
“Many other councils are doing the same in order to maintain the service.”
