Norden Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group for Rochdale, Cllr. Peter Winkler is calling for the immediate reinstatement of 31 school crossing patrols that were axed by Labour’s Rochdale Council Cabinet in 2019.
In March 2019 the Labour Cabinet voted to defund 31 crossing patrols across the borough. Their decision made 31 front-line staff redundant and left 40 primary and secondary schools without a patrol unless they stumped up the £4,000 cost from their education budget. The reason given for this cut was that following an assessment of all schools in the borough, those listed didn’t need a crossing patrol as there was a ‘low risk’ to children – Parents and teachers disagreed. https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/126469/funding-for-school-lollipop-patrols-to-be-axed-by-cashstrapped-council
The schools affected were:
- Boarshaw CP
- St John First RC
- St. Vincent RC
- Norden Community
- Caldershaw CP
- Hollin CP
- Sandbrook Primary
- All Saints CE Primary
- Greenbank CP
- Falinge Park High
- St. Patrick’s RC Primary
- Meanwood Primary
- Heap Bridge CP
- Deeplish Primary*
- St. Andrew’s CE Primary*
- Crossgates Primary
- St. Thomas More RC Primary
- St. Michael’s CE Primary
- Bowlee Park County Primary
- St. James CE Wardle
- Hopwood CP
- Holy Family RC and CE College
- Siddal Moor High
- Oulder Hill CP
- Alkrington Primary
- St. Peters RC Primary
- Kingsway Park
- St. Mary’s CE Primary
- St. Thomas CE
- Newhey CP
- Our Lady and St. Paul’s RC
- Littleborough CP
- Holy Family RC Primary
- Woodlands CP
- Stansfield Hall CE
- Lowerplace CP
- St. Peter’s CE Primary
- St. John’s RC Primary
- Belfield CP
- St. Mary’s RC
* Deeplish & St Andrew's CE Primary Schools are Academies so currently pay the council for their crossing patrols.
Speaking at last week's meeting of the full council, Councillor Winker told Labour’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Cllr. Rachel Massey, that he was calling for the reinstatement of all the services which were axed under her predecessor Cllr. Kieran Heakin.
Cllr. Winkler pointed out that following his campaign to have services reinstated, which included a petition with hundreds of signatures, he had previously been told that it could not possibly be done, there was no need for services at these schools and that the risk to children’s safety was ‘low’.
However, in the council meeting, he referred Cllr. Massey to an election leaflet that Labour had published back in April saying that their campaign to bring back a service on Caldershaw Road in Norden had been won (though this has not happened since they failed to win the seat). He said, “As both a parent and a Ward Councillor I don’t know of any campaign other than my own: https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/126618/petition-started-against-school-crossing-patrol-cuts. I have also spoken to staff at the school am told they too are unaware of any plans.”
“What I do know is that since the appointment of the new Cabinet Member there has been a suggestion that the cut was going to be reversed for just one school (though it hasn’t happened). There have been no circumstantial changes at the school so was this just electioneering? I certainly hope it is not because Cllr. Massey is a parent at this school.”
Calls were made earlier this month for a crossing point close to a school in Castleton following a series of accidents.
“Whatever the reason I think this just shows that the decision to cut these crossing patrols was wrong and needs reversing. I now want to see funding for this and all the other patrols reinstated in time for September. They were removed with three weeks’ notice; with six weeks until the start of the new school year, I am sure that they can be brought back in time for children returning. This would mean that when children return in September, they have patrols in place to help them cross dangerous roads safely.”
“As a council, we need to ensure that children are safe on their way to and from school, it’s a basic duty of care. We are all aware of how dangerous and busy the roads are, especially around schools at the start and end of the school day. I have never understood why these services had to be cut as the council had a balanced budget before removing them. It’s time to bring them back.”
