Schools have been told to pay for their own crossing patrol officers
Brent Council is planning to axe 30 out of the 47 lollipop people working in the borough to save �200,000.
Despite making �100million worth of cuts for the next four years, the council vehemently denies the school patrol crossing officers are its latest casualty.
The plan will leave schools footing the bill if they believe officers are essential to their pupils’ safety.
Brigitte Chaudhry MBE, of Leighton Gardens, Kensal Rise, is the founder and president of RoadPeace, a charity campaigning for safer roads. She told the Times she was appalled by the plans.
She said: “We do not want to put the safety of children at risk. That should be paramount to every politician in Brent. It could put children as risk and mean they are killed or injured. We already have enough accidents on the roads in London.”
The proposals were revealed weeks after the council announced it will close half of the borough’s libraries, despite protests from residents. Three children’s centres in Willesden, Sudbury and Kingsbury will also go.
Ms Chaudhry added: “This action shows that the council does not care for children.”
Tim Jackson, Brent Council’s head of transportation, said the borough had one of the highest number of lollipop people in London and the council is not legally obliged to pay for their services.
He added: “At some schools the children are always accompanied by a parent and this begs the question, do we need someone accompanying them?”
“Nowhere is absolutely safe to cross, but we are moving to put our staff where it is most dangerous rather than in arbitrary places.
“Schools will be able to buy a lollipop person from us. If they want to employ someone to do it, we will train them up. We are going to negotiate with schools about what they want.”
A public consultation into the plan was launched on Monday. To take part visit www.brent.gov.uk.
Primary schools that could lose their lollipop men and women
Convent of Jesus & Mary Infants (Park Avenue and Willesden High Road)
Ealing Schools
Fryent Primary
Harlesden Primary
Islamia Primary
John Keble Primary
Kensal Rise Primary
Leopold Primary
Lyon Park Infant and Junior
Malorees Primary (Aylestone Avenue and Brondesbury Park)
NW London Jewish School
Oakington Manor Primary
Our Lady of Grace Infants and Juniors
Park Lane Primary
Roe Green Infant & Junior
Salusbury Primary (Milman Road and Salusbury Road)
St Marys RC Primary
Stonebridge Primary
St Josephs Primary
Sudbury Primary
Swaminaryan School
Wembley Primary
Wykeham Primary (Aboyne Roadn and Neasden Lane North)
Is your child’s school facing the removal of their lollipop people?
If so contact the news desk on 020 7433 6252 or email harry.low@archant.co.uk
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