Original by Shane Brennan, Dail Post - http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/up-25-school-lollipop-…
News that council planning to cut back crossing wardens met with warning that move could lead to tragedy
Conwy council is planning to cut up to 25 school crossing patrols.
As part of cost-cutting measures, the council will wind up 10 posts that are currently vacant, saving around £15,000.
But it will also look at whether another 13 to 16 could also be finished up and replaced with other road safety measures.
All together, the changes could save the cash-strapped authority around £41,000.
But critics said the move could result in tragedy.
Conwy councillors will consider whether to replace the crossing patrols with 20 mile per hour zones and zebra crossings.
Last year councillors looked at changing the speed limits outside county schools to 20 miles per hour and this week they will be asked to stop using the traditional patrols.
The plan will see 10 patrols, where the post has been vacant, end in 2017/18 with an anticipated savings of about £15,000.
But the council said it could also close another 13 to 16 patrols as those positions open up, this would save between £21,000 and £26,000.
Penmaenmawr Cllr Ken Stevens said: “The Pencae School Crossing Patrol covers the junction of Graiglwyd Road and Conwy Old Road in Penmaenmawr. Neither of these major routes have footpaths, Both are on the hazardous routes to school list, and due to the number of speeding vehicles on Conwy Road, coupled with parked vehicles which mean children have to walk in the road, to remove this supervision could end in tragedy.”
Andrew Hinchcliff, a county councillor from Llanfrairfechan and a governor at one of the schools that could lose its patrol, Ysgol Pant y Rhedyn, said his area should not lose out.
“It’s crazy as people tend to speed along this road (Penmaenmawr Road). I’m not happy at all about it,” he said.
Cllr Dave Cowans, Cabinet Member for the Highways, Environment & Sustainability Portfolio, said he understood people’s concerns: “I appreciate that changes to school crossing patrol provision is a very emotive issue. However, the proposal is in accordance with national guidance relating to their provision and is based on objective evidence. No school crossing patrol staff will lose their jobs as a result of the proposal, as only vacant posts will be disestablished.”