PARENTS and councillors in Basingstoke have expressed concerns about the proposed cuts to school crossing patrols.

School crossing patrols across Hampshire could be axed as part of a budget proposal which aims to save the county council £1.1m. 

However, parents are concerned that removing school crossings could result in an accident. 

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Nina Watkeys, whose child attends St Marks Primary School, in Hatch Warren, said: "I think that even with someone at the crossing you still have near misses, so if you remove that presence you are asking for problems.

"There's serious potential for an accident if there is no visible presence there, which is obviously a worry to all mothers and parents, not necessarily just here but also in other schools across the county. 

"We love Jane, who is our lollipop lady here, and I think it will be to the detriment of the safety of the school community to take away this service."

Liz Nolan, whose child attends Overton Church of England Primary School, said: "Keith is our lollipop man here and he is a kind of marker for the children and provides a safe spot and safe space away from the school.

"Crossing the road safely is a big thing, and having Keith here keeps order, keeps everyone safe, and also provides the children with some familiarity. There have been times I haven't been able to get down to the school so I've told my child to walk up and wait by Keith. 

"It gives peace of mind to parents, and Keith is a such a lovely, friendly person. We need him."

Jo Sands, also a parent at Overton primary school, added: "The road here is so busy in the mornings and can be so difficult to cross at times, so having someone there to direct and stop the traffic is a massive help, particularly with so many children around.

"Keith is a good guy and does a fantastic job here, and hopefully he can continue to do so."

Keith Vallis, who is a school crossing patrol officer for Overton, said: "It's a lovely place to work here and I love seeing all the friendly faces of the kids, parents and community.

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"It's a really nice job to have and I'm glad to be able to help and do my bit, as this stretch of road can get very busy."

To raise awareness of the importance of the School Crossing Patrols in Woodbury Road, county councillor Stephen Reid met with Dame Maria Miller MP and Charles Applegate, the headteacher of St. Mark’s School.

Cllr Reid said: "I believe the Woodbury Road crossings must be retained.

"Parents at St. Marks are encouraged to park in the community centre car park and then cross Woodbury Road safely with their children, under the supervision of a crossing patrol. To my mind it would be nonsense to ask people to make that crossing as part of the school’s travel plan, and then remove the patrols.

"I value the patrols in Hatch Warren and will lobby for them to be retained."

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller said road safety must be a "top priority".

She added: "It was concerning to hear that Hampshire County Council is reviewing funding for all school crossing patrols in their upcoming budget review due to be passed in early November. 

"I hope more councillors are able to back councillor Stephen Reid's call for road safety to be a priority for the coming council budget."

The town's MP said there are "huge pressures" on county council money, as one of the biggest county councils in the country. 

She added: "The people who run the organisation work hard to ensure they recognise and act on the local priorities of residents in every area that it serves. For me, road safety must always be a top priority."

Mrs Miller said the council is reviewing crossings on a "case-by-case basis" and plans to "make decisions on the merits of each individual arrangement."

She added: "I know the county will look objectively at the evidence before them and that is why I am backing Cllr Reid’s campaign to maintain current arrangements and keep School Crossing Patrols.’’ 

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “For a long time now, we’ve been very clear about the huge budget pressures facing the County Council by April 2025 and, like many local authorities nationally, our budgets are stretched to breaking point.

"This is down to high inflation, years of underfunding from central Government and growing demand for local services in areas like social care for vulnerable children and adults where more and more people need help and support.

"We are predicting a £132m budget shortfall by April 2025 and the full County Council will carefully consider a range of options on 9 November which aim to help towards closing this funding gap. Regrettably, however, this may mean some very tough decisions are needed on what the Authority can and cannot continue to do in future.

“Regarding the specific proposal to find £1.1 million savings from the school crossing patrol budget, any future changes to this service would require more detailed assessment and further public consultation.

"Whilst we have a legal duty to ensure children can get to school as safely as possible, we do not have a statutory duty to do this through the dedicated provision of school crossing patrol officers.

"There may be effective alternatives at some sites which could be identified. There is still some time before any final decisions are made however, as following consideration by the full County Council next month, further public consultation may then be undertaken in the new year to explore in more detail options to deliver some savings proposals.”

The proposal is part of Hampshire County Council’s bid to reduce its expenses over the next few years and reduce its £132m financial gap in its 2025/26 budget.

With no expected forthcoming government financial support, the council has consulted on a number of proposals that could save £90.4m. 

However, the authority has warned these cuts may not go far enough - and said more will be needed.