Stock photo of Bristol's school crossing patrol people. See SWNS story SWCROSS; A council could become the first in Britain to scrap ALL lollipop ladies and men - as the popular crossing guards face the axe across the country. Cash-strapped Bristol City Council plans to ditch the patrol staff at 80 schools in a bid to slash £360,000 off its budget. But the authority has been warned by a furious school governor that axing all 67 lollipop people will lead to more children being hurt in accidents on busy city roads. In its impact report, the council even admits cutting the school patrols will impact on the safety of children - with each child's life being priced at £4,500.
The end could be nigh for lollipop men and ladies as the popular crossing guards face the axe across the country.
Cash-strapped Bristol City Council plans to ditch the patrol staff at 80 schools in a bid to slash £360,000 off its budget as it looks to meet a shortfall of £43 million after central Government cuts.
A petition blocking the move has so far gathered nearly 1,000 signatures.
In a letter to the lollipop men and women, the service director for transport Peter Mann wrote to say the council was facing “a very significant financial challenge”.
He warned them while they are free to discuss their views, they should not bring the council “into disrepute”.
The move comes in the wake of Devon County Council voting in February to pass the cost of crossing patrols to individual schools, although that was later overturned, and Sunderland City Council approving plans in January to reduce the number of crossing patrols.
Newcastle City Council also announced last month it was looking into axing almost all school crossing patrols after a review found only two out of 55 crossings were deemed to be high-risk.
