Lollipop wardens face the axe to save cash in Staffordshire

The county council has carried out a review of the wardens to see which ones are still needed and have made a decision to reduce numbers.

The authority has confirmed out of 250 sites 30 will no longer be maintained.

Wardens are being called into meetings this week to be informed if they will be kept on. The council has stated they cannot publicly confirm the locations to be axed until they have spoken to the wardens directly.

Mark Deaville, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council had supported 'a number of initiatives' around road safety for schools and that with a 'limited budget' the council had to have school crossing patrols 'where they are needed most'.

He said: "In recent years we have supported a number of initiatives to help improve road safety around schools including "20 is plenty" speed signs, walking buses and designated safer walking routes.

"With the limited budget available it is important school crossing patrols are placed where they are needed most, at the busiest spots used by the largest number of young children.

"The changes to patrols only apply to those sites which don't meet the criteria for a patrol as they already have a controlled pedestrian crossing or are little used.

"Over the coming weeks we will be working closely with both staff and schools ahead of the planned changes in September."

Staffordshire County Council is looking to save money where it can as it looks to plug a funding gap of tens of millions of pounds.