Wirral Council under fire over road safety advice after school crossing patrols are axed

Nov 12 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL Council has been criticised for giving parents and children road safety advice - a week after axing 18 school crossing patrol sites to save £50,000.

The council is promoting National Road Safety Week, from November 10 to November 16, with visits to schools by road safety officers.

David Green, director of technical services, said: “While we have a strong schools education programme running across the borough, we are hoping to bring parents’ attention to the fact that when they display poor road safety behaviour, they are teaching their children the same thing.”

But Moreton and Saughall Massie Councillor Chris Blakeley said: “Wirral Council, whilst removing 18 school crossing patrols from across the borough, is now asking for help to save lives.

“I am disappointed that the council, while making the right noises, is not prepared to take the first step and stop the plans to axe 18 lollipop ladies and men.”

Protests against axing the crossings were held outside schools across the borough last week.

The protestors were at Sandbrook Primary School, Moreton,Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary, Leasowe, Somerville Primary and St Joseph's RC Primary, Wallasey and St Michaels and All Angels Primary in Woodchurch.

Wirral Council says school crossing patrol staff at sites to be removed will have the opportunity to be redeployed to sites where permanent crossing patrols are required.