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Dudley lollipop wardens in axe threat over funding

Lollipop wardens will disappear from outside school gates across the Dudley borough unless schools can stump up the cash to pay for them.

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Cash-strapped Dudley Council is set to axe all of its school crossing patrols as part of drastic cost-cutting measures - but will give schools the option to step in to pay for their own.

However, bosses have admitted many schools in other parts of the country have not able to meet the costs, meaning the number of lollipop men and women outside schools in the borough is likely to plummet.

Costs to schools to keep their wardens would vary, from just over £1,000 to as much as £20,000 for sites which use more than one.

All schools which are run by the local authority would be affected.

The changes, which would come into force from next year, would save the council around £260,000 per year. The Labour-controlled authority needs to save £20 million over the next three years following severe cuts to its budget by the Government.

School crossing wardens have now become the target as the authority is not obligated to provide them.

Dudley Council previously revealed plans to charge schools for their wardens but has now said crossings will go unmanned if schools cannot afford or choose not to keep them.

The plans are likely to be met with a backlash from parents. In recent years, campaigns have been launched by parents at schools where retiring wardens have not been replaced.

Being asked to foot the bill is also likely to be unwelcome for headteachers, with many schools already stretched.

New 20mph zones are set to be rolled out at 15 schools in the borough, which bosses hope will lessen the need for crossing wardens.

But councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the opposition Conservative Group, accused the council of 'shirking its responsibility' and 'morally blackmailing' schools.

He said: "We know the authority has got to make savings but they shouldn't be making frontline cuts that have a direct impact on people who use them, in this case, parents and children.

"It's putting the emphasis on schools and morally blackmailing schools. It's scandalous."

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services at Dudley Council, said: "The service is not a statutory requirement but the council has previously been in a position to fund this service to schools across the borough.

"While we recognise its importance for parents and local children across the borough, we do need to look at alternative options to fund the service due to the unprecedented times we face as a result of significantly reduced funding from central government."

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