SCHOOL crossing patrols will continue to be funded by the Dudley Council after a major U-turn by the local authority.

Funding for the service was under review as part of the council’s budget savings, with the proposal set to save £395,000 a year.

But council bosses have now decided to continue funding the service for the next year after strong opposition from schools, parents, and borough residents.

A consultation with the 60 schools which currently use the crossing patrol service, which the local authority estimate at a cost of £30 per pupil, was undertaken in October and November.

A paper detailing the results of the consultation was set to go to scrutiny committee on Friday, January 30, but following a strong desire to keep the service, the council has now been forced into looking at alternative ways the service can be provided.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “The proposal to explore alternative funding with schools for the service was not something we proposed lightly, which is why we undertook the original consultation to see whether this was viable.

“Some residents have asked us to continue to fund the service, and while both local authorities and schools continue to face challenges as a result of reduced government funding, we have listened to their concerns and have found a way to fund the service for at least a further year as part of a healthy schools initiative.”

Over the coming year, while the funding is in place, the public health team will be working with schools, children and parents to establish how many children currently walk to school, what would encourage more to do so and the role that school crossing patrols play in enabling children to walk to school.

Cllr Rachel Harris, cabinet member for public health, said: “This is an issue that people are clearly passionate about, and we’ve listened to their concerns and are proposing an alternative option.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve been able to work with colleagues in public health to fund school crossing patrols as part of a wider drive to improve the health of our children by encouraging them to walk to and from school.

“This is especially important as our levels of childhood obesity are higher than they should be.

“Our aim with this new proposal is to make our school communities healthier and happier while also taking more cars off the roads and easing congestion and improving air quality around schools at peak times.”

Cllr Paul Brothwood, Dudley’s UKIP group leader, praised the decision, saying his party will safeguard the borough’s children and “help block poor decisions”.

He said: “This is great news. A lot of people have been working on this to help change the leading group’s position in this. I would like to thank UKIP Cllr Paul Bradley for his work on this.

“It is vital frontline service that help safeguard the boroughs children are not stopped during these challenging times. Now UKIP hold the balance of power it enables us to help block poor decisions.

“Our group will continue to support residents’ views and ensure as many frontline services are saved as possible.”

The council said it will continue consulting with schools and all political groups to see how the service can be made sustainable in the long term and will submit a revised crossing patrol funding proposal to the scrutiny committee later in the year.