SNP councillors have been pressing Stirling Council’s Labour administration for answers on just what is being done - and where - to safeguard children impacted by the phasing out-of-school crossing patrols.
At a recent full meeting of the council, Stirling North SNP councillor Susan McGill asked the administration for a timescale for providing alternative arrangements for replacing patrol officers.
She also asked for them to outline what additional provision would be made where there is currently a formal crossing patrol person.
Environment, transport and net zero convener, Labour’s Councillor Jen Preston, said: “Facilities management and Roads have worked to determine the priority for installing/adapting a traffic management system to allow the safe replacement of school crossing patrollers in each location.
“Several sites within Stirling already have traffic management systems in place, and these are being assessed, and plans put in place to enhance them as required.
“Recruitment of school crossing patrol staff is challenging, so some sites have not had staff in place consistently.
“However, where possible a school crossing patroller will remain on site for a short period of time to support the transition to safe use of the new traffic management system.
“In order of priority, the work to install or improve traffic management will begin in August and the first six significant locations are planned for the remainder of 2023.”
Councillor McGill, however, said the response caused her “some concern”.
“In my ward there is a very busy road past the school. There is a crossing person and zebra crossings and it is still a very dangerous road.
“Where are the six locations and what measures have been put in place to safeguard the children and the timescale? There doesn’t seem to be any plan there and a timescale to safeguard the children from the schools.”
Councillor Preston said she would ask council officers to write to Councillor McGill with the specific details.
But she added: “I’d like to reiterate a point I’ve made in the past - we don’t like these cuts we’ve had to make either.
“I would call on the Scottish Government to consider when it comes to next year’s budget process to consider the impact it has on councils - because we are now faced with cutting the sorts of things we don’t want to cut.”
