Anger has ensued as Argyll and Bute Council revealed plans to cut crossing patrols across the region, with claims that it will put ‘school children’s lives at risk’.
The local authority has proposed a cost-cutting exercise, which could see 20 crossing patrol positions cut across the region, but council chiefs have suggested that volunteers and those in the community replace them.
Terri Colloton is a member of the parent/teacher council for Colgrain Primary, as well as being part of the parent council network for Argyll and Bute and has started a petition to combat the proposal.
Terri said: “The cuts in crossing patrol seem to come up annually.
“The reason the petition was started was because Argyll and Bute Council are expecting parent/teacher council volunteers to replace the crossing personnel, and that is just now feasible.
“It is a draconian way to look at it to expect parents and teachers not to have lives out with school. There isn’t time for parents to do this.
“Crossing guards are important for the community, they are a friendly face for the children, they know how to read the traffic and can recognise regular and non-regular vehicles. This is a cut that will have a big impact on families.
“This has happened across the country in rural areas, and there are A-roads with no crossing personnel or pelican crossing.
“These families are taking their lives into their hands every day.
“Argyll and Bute Council want to lessen traffic on the roads, but this measure will only increase traffic as it will become the only safe way for kids to get to school. It is a tiny cut that will have a big impact.
“There is nothing stated about what measures will be put in place to make sure children can get to school safely. Whether, that’s implementing zebra crossings or pelican crossings.
“It is a slow-burning process, but we are picking up support from parents, relatives and community councillors.”
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council has said: “We are in what has been described as the most difficult budget setting context for years. In Argyll and Bute our estimated budget gap is more than £12.2 million in 2023-24 alone, and more than £54.5 million in 2023-2028. This means that we have to focus on saving the services we have a duty to deliver. Budget decisions will be made on February 23.
“In the meantime the council continues to make the case for more funding.”
