Parents furious after crossing patrollers axed

SNP labelled’‘spineless'by councillor

- STEWART MCCONNELL

Furious parents campaigning to stop plans to axe their school crossing patrols have slammed North Ayrshire Council for refusing to allow their voices to be heard.

And they are warning that children could be hurt as a result of the decision to scrap the vital service.

Parents from both Annick and Corsehill Primaries had their crossings axed in the budget and protested against the decision before last week's North Ayrshire Full Council meeting, which they attended.

Councillors voted against suspending standing orders to vote on the decision to remove them.

Labour leader Joe Cullinane said: “The road traffic accident data from Police Scotland shows that 21 road accidents in the last five years have been on the roads on which the road traffic controllers are being removed, 10 of which were recorded as serious accidents.

“Given we have noted annual accounts where we have spent £450m last year, is the leader still of the opinion that saving £92,000 by removing crossing patrollers is not a risk but with a straight face is she still claiming it is about fairness?”

Annick Primary campaigner Vicky Waddell said: “It’s ridiculous that the councillors know people are not happy with decisions and they are hiding behind anything they can. The school has not notified anyone about the crossing being closed. I thought the Education Cabinet member Shaun Macaulay should have let us speak.

“We will not give up. Eglinton Park representatives and library staff had an opportunity to speak when they faced cuts. If my husband hadn’t spoken with the lollipop lady we wouldn’t have known the crossing was being scrapped.