Lollipop axe is crossing

PLANS to make Oldham schools pay for their own lollipop men and women have been described as dangerous penny pinching.

And Tony Harrison, secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers (NUT), thinks parents will be appalled.

The Chronicle revealed on Friday how the council wants schools to pay up to £5,377 for the service, provide their own school crossing patrols or go without.

It would save £187,000-a-year as the council strives to cut £31million by 2015.

Mr Harrison said: “Road safety is a major issue for children in Oldham and our members have child protection and safety as their number-one priority.

“For the sums involved, this is penny pinching and it is putting children at risk. I think parents will be appalled.

“Apart from the safety point, it will make more parents consider driving their children to school which is not environmentally friendly.”

St Herbert’s Primary School is at the corner of two busy, main roads in Broadway and Middleton Road in Chadderton.

Chairman of governors Father Peter McKie said: “It is very, very dangerous. Obviously if we have to pay for a school crossing patrol we will have to pay for it. It is extra money. We are not happy but the safety of the children in paramount — we absolutely need a crossing patrol.”

Not all schools have a lollipop man or woman and councils do not have a legal duty to provide them.

The council wants to stop funding the service from March 31, 2013. A decision will be made at the full council meeting in December.
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