Cutbacks in ‘lollipop’ patrols across Argyll and Bute are taking effect this month, with 12 staff quitting the job rather than accept reduced working hours.
The council says these vacant posts are being advertised – but there isn’t enough time to fill all the posts, while school crossing patrols are being cut completely on the busy A814 in Rhu, Colgrain and Cardross because there is an electronic crossing at the site
Wholesale cutbacks to school crossing patrols were mooted earlier this year as the council planned £10m cutbacks – but were overwhelmingly rejected as 5,000 people took part in a consultation process.
Despite this, the council decided to cut the lunchtime service and get rid of patrols altogether at the three sites with electronic crossings.
Parents were due to receive letters advising them of the changes last night (Wednesday), but the news had already started to leak out on social media, causing widespread concern on social media.
A council statement said: “23 additional locations offered supervised lunchtime crossings.
“These will now offer supervision only for pupils on the way to school in the morning and on the way home in the late afternoon e.g. at the busiest times. Far fewer pupils go home for lunch each day.
“Six of these members of staff have chosen to continue in their roles with the new hours. 12 have decided to move on and we would like to thank them for their work with Argyll and Bute Council and wish them all the best in the future. Their last day will be Friday October 14.
“These posts, plus another five which are vacant as part of normal staff turnover, are in the process of being recruited into. In total we have 17 school crossing patroller job vacancies to fill.”
The council says bank staff may be used to provide cover at sites such as Sinclair Street and Craigendoran Bridge until new workers are appointed – but there are only three bank staff in Helensburgh and one in Dunoon, so it seems likely that some of the following locations will not have a crossing patrol in place:
- Argyll Street near McArthur Street, Dunoon
- Minster’s Brae, High Street, Rothesay
- Ralston Road, Campbeltown
- High Street, Campbeltown
- Craigendoran Bridge, Helensburgh
- Henry Bell Street/East King Street, Helensburgh
- East King Street/Old Luss Road, Helensburgh
- East King Street/Old Luss Road, Helensburgh (second patroller)
- Old Luss Road/South King Street, Helensburgh
- Redgauntlet Road/School Road, Helensburgh
- East Argyle Street/ Grant Street, Helensburgh
- Sinclair Street/Argyle Street, Helensburgh
- B833/Ferry Road Junction, Rosneath
- Millknowe, Campbeltown
- Lennox Street, Port Ellen
- Glengallon Road, Oban
- Dixon Avenue near Park Avenue, Dunoon
A council spokesperson added: “Although there is no statutory requirement to provide school crossing patrollers, and ultimately the responsibility to ensure safe passage of children to and from school lies with their parents/carers, the council is committed to ensuring support is in place, which is why we are actively recruiting for these positions, and why we have a road safety team which works hard to educate school pupils on the importance of staying safe.”
The crossings which will no longer provide lunchtime supervision but will be manned in the mornings and afternoons are:
- Hillfoot Street near Milton Avenue, Dunoon
- Hardy Hill/ Winston Road, Helensburgh
- Fisher Place/Winston Road, Helensburgh
- Ben Bouie Drive/Old Luss Road, Helensburgh
- East Abercrombie/Easterhill Road, Helensburgh
- Feorlin Way/Queen’s Crescent, Garelochhead
The crossings at which there will be no change e.g. where there was no lunchtime crossing are:
- A815/Old Road and Service Road to Succoth Forest View, Strachur
- Taynuilt Village and A85, Taynuilt
- Sinclair Street/Argyle Street, Helensburgh (second patroller)
- Ben Bouie Drive/Old Luss Road, Helensburgh (second patroller)
- A82, Tarbet
- Luss village
This is shocking – lollipop patrols do far more than help kids cross the road, e.g. Spotting suspicious characters or if someone is missing. How much are these people paid, who have been forced out of their jobs? How many of them could you employ with the £118k salary of the new chief exec, whose only claim to fame is trying to close schools?