KCC RESPONSE TO MY SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF SCHOOL CROSSING ATTENDANT

Cllr Sandra Hart - TDC.

KCC were unable to offer any definitive answer as to whether the school crossing patrol in Millmead Road will be maintained. They did inform me that the current lollipop lady at Northdown School has informed KCC that she will be retiring in March. However, KCC did not know whether the school is planning to employ a new school crossing patrol after the retirement.

This response only increases my concern.

CONCERNS REGARDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF SCHOOL CROSSING ATTENDANT

Dane Valley ward councillor Sandra Hart is backing plans for a new Zebra Crossing outside Northdown Primary School in Margate but is extremely concerned that local children could lose their crossing attendant in the long-term due to stringent public sector cut-backs.

Cllr Sandra Hart said "The scheme to create a new Zebra Crossing outside the school has my full support, but I am very concerned that in the long-term the new crossing could be used as an excuse to make our dedicated crossing attendant redundant".

Recent reports in national newspapers have exposed local authorities who are planning to make crossing attendants redundant to cut costs. One such report in the Daily Telegraph even featured a picture of the local dedicated lollipop lady - Maurine Thoroughgood - outside Northdown Primary School in Millmead Road, Margate.
See
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8227036/Lollipop-ladies-sacked-to-save-money.html

Cllr Hart has contacted Kent Highways asking for an absolute guarantee that local children and families will not lose their dedicated crossing attendant at any time in the future (see communication below).

January 2011 13:16Subject: COUNCILLOR COMMUNICATION - CONSULTATION ON MILLMEAD ROAD, NEW ZEBRA CROSSINGTo: td.canterbury.thanet@kent.gov.uk
COUNCILLOR COMMUNICATION - CONSULTATION ON MILLMEAD ROAD, NEW ZEBRA CROSSING

Sirs

I am writing as a District Councillor for Dane Valley Ward at Thanet District Council regarding the CONSULTATION ON MILLMEAD ROAD, NEW ZEBRA CROSSING in Margate that is proposed for my ward. (ref T4/TH/16062223/RSh)

Firstly I would like to confirm that I fully back the scheme as outlined in the proposal forwarded to me.

HOWEVER I am very concerned that in the long term this project could be used to make our crossing attendant redundant due to forthcoming cut backs.


In a recent edition of the Daily Telegraph, Graeme Paton, the Education Editor reported:

Authorities are reducing the number of crossing patrols outside schools amid sweeping funding cuts across the public sector.
In some cases, patrols are being scrapped altogether while other councils are replacing paid staff with volunteers.
The disclosure – in a study by the Times Educational Supplement – prompted warnings that cost-cutting measures will put children at risk.
Caroline Perry, from the road safety charity Brake, said: “We are extremely worried. In 2009, 12 children were killed or seriously injured on UK roads every day.
“We should be working to reduce this number, not making the situation worse.”
What particularly worries me is that the photograph attached to this article in the Telegraph national newspaper was of our actual crossing attendant for Northdown Primary School here in Millmead Road, Margate.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8227036/Lollipop-ladies-sacked-to-save-money.html

Please see picture at this link: Public sector ww.cuts are already dissproportianately affecting our residents here in Thanet and from my experience these crossings are only safe outside schools when manned by dedicated crossing attendants.

Can I please therefore have an absolute guarantee that we will not lose our dedicated crossing attendant in Millmead Road at any point in the future?

Cllr Sandra Hart (Thanet District Council - Dave Valley Ward)