Castle Bromwich school crossing falls victim to cuts

SAVINGS: The council is looking
to shave £100k from its annual budget

A CROSSING patrol in Castle Bromwich is among those set to be wound up as part of a controversial council cost-cutting drive.
Earlier this year, Other Side of Solihull revealed that the borough council was considering a dramatic reduction in the budget available for crossing patrols. In order to save £100,000 a year, Solihull Council has set out plans to “disestablish” a total of 22 sites.
First in the firing line are eight locations where there is a facility such as a Zebra or Pelican crossing as well as a traffic warden. This includes the crossing in Hurst Lane North, opposite Castle Bromwich Junior School.
Last month, Councillor Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, approved plans to do away with the lollipop person along that stretch of road and at seven other sites.
He told fellow members it “wasn’t an easy decision”.
“At the end of the day I have to ask the question if you have any other thoughts about where we’re going to save £100,000?”
Earlier in the meeting, representatives of opposition parties had voiced some misgivings about the process.
Coun Glenis Slater (Lib Dem, Elmdon) said the plans gave her “a great cause for concern” and specifically identified Hurst Lane North as “an extremely busy area”.
“It’s a very, very well-used road, there’s a lot of vehicles on that road and it’s not just cars, it’s buses as well and big trucks and all sorts of things. There’s quite a lot of inconsiderate parking down that road as well. Personally I think it’s a mistake, a great big mistake, that the council are making.”
Council highways officer Paul Tovey argued that the eight crossings were something of an anomaly, with around 120 similar sites already operating without the presence of a warden.
“People manage to use those 120 very safely,” he said. “But I do appreciate it is a change and certainly we can offer support to those schools where we do take away that facility...”
Solihull Council has said it does not envisage making any redundancies at this stage, given that there are around 10 vacancies at other sites, which would enable the local authority to “shuffle the pack” and redeploy the wardens affected.
The council admits, however, that the jobs situation may need to be reviewed as it considers the future of more than a dozen other patrols.

Another view:
A crossing warden we spoke to from another council area said they believed the role was still very important.
 “Children are distracted on their way to and from school,” said the mum-of-three. “They’re either staring at their phones or chatting to friends.
“We provide a vital service, not only making sure they cross the road safely, but we add another line of defence safeguarding them from harm. I get paid just over £200 a month – I’m sure any parent would consider that money well spent.”