COUNCIL bosses have decided to axe six school crossing patrols in Kidderminster despite fierce opposition to their plans.

Campaigners reacted with fury after Worcestershire County Council confirmed it is pressing ahead with its plans to remove lollipop men and women from 15 county sites which have pedestrian or zebra crossings with immediate effect.

There was a reprieve for one Kidderminster lollipop lady – Linda Parker – however, who will continue to serve Holy Trinity, St Ambrose and St George’s Schools on Birmingham Road while a review is undertaken in the autumn.

Councillor Fran Oborski, who presented a petition and forms to a county council meeting discussing the issue from more than 650 parents, grandparents and carers worried about losing crossing patrols at Comberton Road and Borrington Road, said she was disgusted by the decision.

She also accused Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with Responsibility for Communities, of trying to pass the buck on the decision by saying it was an “officer decision”.

Labour councillors also opposed the cuts at the meeting on July 19.

The council said road safety training will be offered to those losing their school crossing patrols. The decision is anticipated to save the authority more than £40,000.

But Councillor Oborski, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on children’s safety, said: “I am delighted that a ‘temporary reprieve’ has been achieved for the much loved Lollipop Linda on the A456.

“However, words cannot adequately express the utter disgust I feel at the decision to make the crossing patrols at the Comberton Road and on Borrington Road redundant with immediate effect.

“Councillor Lucy Hodgson refused to take any responsibility at all for this heinous decision, hiding behind her mantra of “It’s an officer decision!”

“This is beneath contempt from a cabinet member in receipt of a considerable allowance for taking responsibility.

“Every day hundreds of parents and children use these crossing patrols and every day parents have the confidence to allow their children to walk to school because of the presence of the school crossing patrols.

“The congestion on Borrington Road at the start and end of the school day is already horrendous.

“There is absolutely no doubt at all that removal of the crossing patrols will mean that even more parents will feel obliged to drive their children to school.”

“The County Council, by slavishly adhering to adopted policy without any consideration of local circumstances, is betraying the interests of parents, carers and children.

“I shall be contacting everyone who replied to my petitions to consider what to do next.”

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities, said: "Following consultation with staff and feedback from parents and schools, the decision has been made to remove patrols from locations that are situated on or near to a formal crossing such as a pedestrian or zebra crossing.

“They will also be removed from locations where there is insufficient traffic or children to meet the criteria for a patrol.

"We have however decided to undertake further investigations into the crossing patrol site on Birmingham Road operating for St Ambrose Catholic Primary, St Georges CE Primary and Holy Trinity School.

"This will be carried out in the autumn term so the school crossing patrol will remain in post until a decision has been reached.

"Where a school crossing patrol is removed, school children will be prioritised and offered road safety education and training through their school."