Wirral schools forced to pay for their own lollipop men and women

May 19 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE Wirral primary schools have been forced to pay for their own crossing patrols, after funding was withdrawn by the council.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, in Leasowe, was one of 10 axed out of a possible 18 identified by the local authority.

According to the council, Sandbrook primary, in Moreton, and Bidston Avenue, in Claughton, have also dipped into school funds to pay for lollipop men and women.

The Daily Post revealed last October the council’s “secret” plans to save £50,000 by axing the school crossing patrols and campaigns sprang up across the borough to try to save them.

Following the introduction of new assessment criteria, the authority backed down on seven of the lollipop patrols under threat.

But one of those affected, Our Lady of Lourdes, said they felt the crossing patrol was essential.

Headteacher, Mrs Ann Melville, said she and her school’s governors felt the children would be put at risk without a patrol – and have used school funds to pay for it to continue.

She said: “The governors did not really feel comfortable with not having the school crossing patrol; we felt children’s lives would be at risk.”

However, she said the council had been “very helpful” with the necessary paperwork and ensuring continuity of service. Cllr Pat Williams, who campaigned for the new criteria to be brought in which resulted in fewer cuts to school crossing patrols, said she was concerned that schools felt they had to spend their funds on the service.

She said: “It does seem rather unfair that schools which have managed their budgets then have this to deal with.”

Leah Fraser, prospective Conservative MP for Wallasey and Moreton, said: “The mums and dads I met at the school gates, at Leasowe, and across Wallasey, did not think for a minute that the price of saving lollipop ladies would be less books or equipment in the classroom.

“The council is cutting back on road safety in the hope that the school steps in, using money that was awarded for teaching. Either way, it’s the children who are losing out.”