by Andrew Galloway, local democracy reporter
School lollipop crossing patrollers could be scrapped under new budget proposals by Argyll and Bute Council, with over 50 full-time equivalent jobs put on the line.
A report to go before the authority’s policy and resources committee today (Thursday) also suggests the closure of its road safety unit.
The unit delivers education on staying safe on the road to pupils in early years, primary and secondary education, along with motorcyclists and young drivers.
The removals of both services have been suggested in previous years, and are listed among the options for the council’s budget setting for 2019-2022, which is due to be finalised in February.
It is estimated that removing those two services would save the council more than £700,000.
Rhona Black, chair of the parent council at Hermitage Primary School in Helensburgh,, raised concerns about the effects of any such move on pupils’ ability to walk to school should the crossing patrol service be removed. The school is based beside busy Sinclair Street.
Ms Black said: “The school patrol manning the streets around Hermitage Primary are a valuable part of our community.
“Their diligent, alert and cheerful help allows many parents and pupils to be confident in their safety as they cross Sinclair Street and Grant Street.
“Sinclair Street in particular is a very busy junction, with no traffic lights at the intersection of Argyle Street on either side of the crossroads.
“A high percentage of older children walk to school alone, and crossing this road would become dangerous; not to speak of the stream of small children and families, often with buggies or bicycles attempting to cross before and after school each day.
“Helensburgh is blessed with beautiful lanes and roads, as well as ample opportunity for children to appreciate the benefits of walking along to school and home again in the afternoon.
“Many children build relationships of trust with the school patrol, recognising them and trusting them to have their safety uppermost.
“Our hope would be that the council would take this into serious consideration when establishing their priorities.”
Effie Walker, a long-serving former lollipop lady, was also dismayed by the possibility of scrapping the service.
She did the job for 43 years at Colgrain Primary School in Helensburgh and was given a British Empire Medal for her long service in 2017.
She said: “It is all very well them sitting in an office saying they are doing this or that, but they should be watching the roads, especially Sinclair Street.
“That area is atrocious, and so is under the arch, where I stood.
“The patrollers stand out in all weathers, but I loved the job and wish I was still doing it.
“I can’t see why the council would want to do away with them.”
Removing the school crossing patrol service would result in 12.5 FTE posts being axed.
The document, by executive director of strategic finance Kirsty Flanagan, also states that the funding gap to the council over the next three financial years is over £13million – more than £3m of which is over the coming year.
Ms Flanagan’s report said: “Savings options have been classified into management/operational options where there are no policy implications and will not result in any redundancies and policy options, where there are either policy or staffing implications.
“For all options, including the management/operational savings options, it cannot be assumed that they will not have an impact on service delivery, however, the council has a duty to balance its budget.
“The savings options identified propose a reduction to the council’s staffing of 55.8 FTE (full-time equivalent posts) within 2019/20 should they all be accepted by members.”
Six FTE posts are potentially under threat as part of a proposed 10 per cent reduction to the grounds/environment service, along with five FTE posts in the environmental warden service.
The road safety unit also oversees the annual calendar design competition for school pupils from all over the area, which last year was won by Carmen McKell from Rosneath Primary School.
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