Save our lollipop patrols! Angry parents fighting Dudley's plans to axe crossing wardens

Around 30 parents protested outside Quarry Bank Primary School against the funding withdrawal for lollipop wardens in the borough.

Colourful placards were held by concerned mums and dads, reading 'child safety not council cuts'.

Jennifer Walker, whose six-old-year old daughter attends the Brierley Hill school, organised the campaign.

She said: "We are aware that Quarry Bank is one of the busiest roads in the borough and we were extremely upset that the council even thought of cutting it as it serves the school directly.

"Gail, who has been our lollipop lady for more than 15 years, is a staple in the school - she is absolutely golden and is there rain or shine.

"The amount of times that there has been near misses with emergency vehicles is crazy. We are a thoroughfare for all nearby places in the Black Country and traffic can be very heavy.

"All parents are really concerned about this - crossing patrols should not be cut but kept sacrosanct."

Dudley Council currently funds the school crossing service, but say the continuing reductions in funding from central government has prompted a review in an effort to save £395,000.

The council's proposals are for the schools to instead fund the crossing sites which serve their pupils, while operation of the service would still be overseen by the local authority.

Mrs Walker added: "We are just normal families and one thing that families in the Black Country are passionate about is looking after each other.

"We will continue to campaign against this in the best way we can.

"Children's safety should come first."

Earlier this month the council's consultation with schools came to an end, but only 26 out of 123 invited to take part responded.

Schools were asked to rate options including ending the school crossing patrol completely, retaining a crossing patrol operated and managed by the council at an estimated rechargeable cost of £6,500, and retaining a crossing patrol site with staff who are directly employed and funded by schools, with estimated fee of £1,500 payable to the council. The results of the consultation will go to full council in March.