Calls to secure future of Dudley lollipop patrols
Campaigners have called for assuranes over the long-term future of school crossing patrols in Dudley after the council's U-turn on axing funding for the next year.
After a 20,000-strong petition and demonstrations against proposals for schools to pay for wardens themselves, the authority announced on Friday it intends to fund the service for 2017/18.
But this has led to questions over whether the school crossing patrols are also secured for years to come.
Kelly Round, a governor at Thorns Primary School in Quarry Bank, said: "We are really pleased with the outcome, but it is only for a year.
"We need to know what impact there will be in the future. We have had a lot of support from certain councillors and from the local community, so they must continue to listen to our views on this."
Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, has reiterated that schools will not have to pay for the service under the revised proposals.
"The schools have never had to pay for this service, and they won't have to.
"We have found a new way of funding this through the council's public health department, and their initiative to get more parents and children to walk to school."
The council's public health team will be working with schools, children and parents to establish how many children currently walk to school, what would encourage more to do so and the role that school crossing patrols play in enabling children to walk to school.
Previously the authority had described it as 'a non-statutory service' and argued that by no longer funding the wardens it would save £395,000.
The revised proposal to fund wardens for 2017/18 will go to scrutiny later in the year.
Among the lollipop ladies celebrating the success of their campaign to keep the service, was 50-year-old Sue Dudley.
As a mobile warden she has spent time on all of the crossings in the borough, and stresses the importance of keeping them there.
She said: "We work on these roads and we know how dangerous they are. Even when there's a traffic light people don't always stop on the red light.
"We only earn £7.69 an hour and it felt like they were putting that price on a child's life."
The u-turn was also welcomed by Councillor Paul Brothwood, who campaigned against the plans.
He said: "It is vital frontline services that help safeguard the borough's children are not stopped during these challenging times."
