A SCOTTISH council has cut all school patrol positions across its region to save more than £400,000 in its financial forecast.
Aberdeenshire Council made the move on Thursday, stating that amid “difficult decisions” all lollipop men and ladies were to be axed at the end of the 2024 term.
No authority is required to provide school crossing patrollers and Moray Council made the decision to cut the role in 2019.
Leader of the SNP opposition group, councillor Gwenyth Petrie, urged others to reconsider the cuts, suggesting a pilot scheme where roads are off-limits to motorists at certain points of the day be expanded.
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Others shared that constituents had raised school safety concerns and questioned whether more parents will drive their children to the school gate.
However, the decision was voted through with 38 votes to 23 prevailing.
It will affect the equivalent of 14.5 full-time jobs and save £436,000.
Administration councillor Anne Simpson defended the decision, telling councillors that it is “the responsibility of parents to ensure that children get to school safely”.
School janitor staff are also to face cuts to save £195,000 over the next year.
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