£1,500 to move lollipop lady 100yds - and back

A cash-strapped Black Country council has spent £1,500 moving a lollipop lady 100 yards up the road — only to send her back to her original position weeks later.

The sum was shelled out on new road markings in Wordsley High Street, but they were later removed in what residents have slammed as a "waste of money".

Dudley Council had moved Angela Davies from her usual place at the junction of the A491 and Ashdown Drive.

New road markings warning motorists of crossing children were painted and a dropped kerb was installed at the new location — past the junction with Rectory Street.

But parents complained that their youngsters were then having to cross Rectory Road themselves to reach school, so Mrs Davies was returned to her original place on the school-side of the junction and the markings removed.

The council then spent another £1,500 painting similar markings at the crossing near the junction with Coldstream Drive.

Sally Wright, aged 54, of nearby Ashdown Drive, said: "This is ridiculous. They are supposed to be trying to save money, not waste it on messing around with crossings."

The council recently angered residents in Coldstream Drive by refusing to cut their grass verge, to save money.

"We can't get our grass cut but they waste £1,500," Mrs Wright added.

After Mrs Davies was moved in September, pupils at Fairhaven Primary School were having to cross the busy Rectory Road to reach their school.

Parents were concerned for their safety and demanded a return to the old set-up, so the council decided to burn away the markings last week, at a cost of £370.

Catherine Jones, whose son William, aged five, is a pupil at the school, said: "It's so silly that they moved the crossing. Look at all this money that's been wasted."

The authority, which needs to save £65 million, today defended the expense.

Spokeswoman Katherine Finney said: "We moved the school crossing as it was felt this would be closer to the crest of the road, and also at a point where facilities have been introduced to assist other pedestrians to cross.

"However, following feedback and concerns from parents, it was agreed that the school crossing position could be retained in its original position."