Aberdeenshire parents raise safety concerns over lollipop staff cuts

Parents have raised concerns over school crossing patrollers being axed in Aberdeenshire during last week's budget cuts.

The roles were removed in a bid to save £436,000.

The local authority made cuts to several services as councillors looked to save £17.3 million over the next year.

However, the move has been criticised by parents who claim removing lollipop staff is "putting children's safety at risk".

A Fraserburgh mum has created a petition urging the authority to reverse the cuts - it has already received over 2,000 signatures.

Angeline Simpson has hailed a pilot scheme at her daughter's school where part-time traffic restrictions are put in place during peak times.

She's hoping councillors decide to introduce the scheme on a permanent basis: “Currently, at my daughter’s school, we have a part-time closure scheme in place. It’s been there since May last year and it’s in a trial period of 18 months. We are hoping it stays permanently because it’s been a huge success.

"Bearing this in mind – there’s more children getting dropped off further away from the school and they’re relying on the lollipop crossing patrollers now than ever before.

"Everyone I’ve spoke to since Friday morning – they agree with me and they all think it is a ludicrous decision to even consider it.

"They’re also all concerned that children will be knocked down on the busy roads without the help of the lollipop patrol crossers."

Ms Simpson stressed the speed cars travel on the roads is "ridiculous" and without the lollipop worker in her local area, she would find it difficult to even cross the road.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “We will be carrying out a staff consultation and work will begin to assist community-led solutions in areas where a crossing patrol is desired.

“We currently have patrollers aligned to 35 of our 149 primary schools and this will cease by the end of the current school year in July.

“School crossing patrol provision is a non-statutory service and it remains the responsibility of parents and carers to ensure the safety of their child to and from school.

“Aberdeenshire Council will continue its road safety educational programmes in schools.”