Tory U Turn on School Crossing Patrols
Posted on Thursday 12th May 2011 00:00 by Keith
The Tory controlled County Council has confirmed today that they have now made a U turn on their planned cuts to school crossing patrols. They pushed through these safety cuts in February this year in their budget debate, when they refused to accept Liberal Democrat amendments to save the lollipop patrols.
Opposition Leader, Councillor Christina Jebb, who proposed the amendment to save the school crossing patrols in February, said: "I'm delighted to hear that the Conservative administration has now listened to reason and will reinstate the threatened school crossing patrols. The safety of our children is far too important to leave this to chance, when they have to cross busy main roads on their walk to school. It was a nonsense to make savings this way and it was outrageous to try and hide this in the budget documents.
"At last they have listened to the groundswell of concern that has built up from residents, fearful for their children's safety.
"I discovered £800,000 of unallocated reserves in the budget papers in February - more than enough to save the school crossing patrols - but the Tories refused to take this opportunity and insisted on pressing ahead with their cuts. Now they need to explain what else they plan to cut, so that the lollipop patrols can be saved.
"The Tories are claiming that they never planned to make any cuts to school crossing patrols, but the evidence is before us, in the report I received from the County Council's chief financial officer in February, answering my detailed questions on the budget.
"The Conservative administration must apologise for the way it has mislead residents on this serious matter."
