School children urge crossing patrol cuts rethink

A group of school children have told councillors plans to scrap school crossing patrols in Hampshire should be dropped so they can "stay safe".

Hampshire County Council has proposed removing 17 patrols at schools in Eastleigh, Fareham, the New Forest, Winchester, Havant, Gosport and Test Valley before April 2025 to save money.

After hearing the pleas of children from St Mark's School in Basingstoke, a council committee voted to recommend the plans be paused for further investigation work.

The proposals are due to be discussed by the council cabinet next month.

The council’s plan to withdraw funding for 17 school crossing patrols was announced as part of efforts to plug the £175m deficit gap it expects for 2025/26.

Cutting the patrols at locations that do not meet the set criteria for having one, or already have a safe alternative means of crossing the road, would save £114,000 per year, according to a council report.

A deputation of school children from St Mark’s Primary School in Basingstoke spoke before councillors discussed the issue at the committee meeting.

Jackson, 11, Sophia, 10, and Harry, 8, told county councillors 4,577 pedestrians aged 15 and under were hurt, killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year.

Harry said: “We don’t want one of us or one of our friends to become one of those numbers.

"We ask you to think again and keep school crossing patrols so we can stay safe on our way to school."

"School crossing patrol encourage us to walk or cycle to school and make everyone feel safe in their community," said Sophia.

Liberal Democrat Malcolm Wade said the financial saving was a "tiny amount" compared to the safety of the children.

He said: “If we do this, there will be accidents where there were previous crossing patrols. Don’t kid yourself because they won’t, because there will, statistically it will happen."

The committee chair, Conservative Rob Mocatta, said there was "unease" over the plans.

"I fully accept we as a council are in a financial hole and we have to make every effort to save money where we can," he said.

"It's an incredibly emotive issue. I've had a lot of correspondence from residents, the overwhelming bulk are massively against trying to cut school crossing patrols."

Members of the committee accepted an amendment recommending the proposal to cut the 17 patrols to be deferred "until detailed site assessments have been carried out".

The council's cabinet is due to discuss the issue on 14 October.

Chamberlayne Road/Blenheim Road, Eastleigh

Chapel Road/Moorgreen Road, West End

Hunts Pond Road/Longacres, Park Gate

Red Lion/Stubbington Green, Stubbington

Red Lion/Stubbington Green, Stubbington

Padnell Avenue, Waterlooville

Havant, Mill Road, Waterlooville

Gosport Road/Cambridge Road, Gosport

Wych Lane/Kent Road, Gosport

Exbury Road/Hampton Lane, Blackfield

Studley Avenue/Lime Kiln Lane, Holbury

Parkhouse Road, Shipton Bellinger

Church Lane, Kings Worthy

Church Road, Swanmore

Wildern Lane, Hedge End

Hart, Gally Hill Road, Crookham

A35 High Street, Lyndhurst

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