'Save our lollipop': Parents gather to protest cuts to crossing patrollers at schools

Panicked parents gathered outside Cunninghame House on Wednesday to protest North Ayrshire Council’s plans to axe “life-saving” lollipop staff jobs.

The rally was in response to the February 26 budget meeting which set councillors’ intentions to axe 17 school crossing guards across the region.

In a bid to close an eye-watering £15.7m funding gap to this year’s budget, the agreed cuts to lollipop posts will save just £92,000.

Meanwhile, North Ayrshire residents are braced for a seven per cent increase to their council tax bill.

Kilwinning mum and Corsehill Community Centre volunteer, Wendy Crighton, said: “There are three getting done away with in Kilwinning and there are major safety concerns for our children.

“Two of these schools have no pedestrian crossings and the road outside Corsehill Primary is a designated test route for learner drivers.

“Almswall Road, that serves Blacklands Primary, is off the dual carriageway which is used by a lot of lorries and there is also a blind spot on that road via Ladyford Avenue.”

School Crossing Patrols are not a statutory service and the council say the responsibility for safe travel to school lies with parents and carers.

But mother of two, Lisa Mitchell, added: “My kids walk to school every day and I know it’s safe because we have two fantastic lollipop people who make sure it’s safe for them to cross the road.

“If the council are serious about helping parents get back into work and reducing the amount of traffic around schools then they need to make it safe for everyone to actually get to school.”

West Kilbride parent, Laura Roberts, added: “We had a lot of positive feedback from the general public who were as dismayed as we are.

“There is no rhyme or reason for these cuts as they have kept some patrols but cut others. It’s not a case if an accident happens but when it happens.

“We would like to see the paperwork which showed no need for patrols in West Kilbride.

“I am a mum to a severely sight-impaired child and he has had a lot of mobility training in West Kilbride to allow him to have his independence. He is 11. Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald came out to give us his support at the protest.

“I understand the Chief Executive, Craig Hatton, is paid £174,000 a year. To me there is a big disconnect if you can’t pay a lollipop man £5 a week but pay someone else that.”

Fellow West Kilbride parent April Mathews said: “We want the council to know that we will make them change this as it’s not acceptable.”

During the protest, parents chanted: “Cuts cost lives!” and “Save our lollipop!” while drivers passed, honking their horns.

The fate of the crossing guards was decided during the budget meeting on February 26. Despite taking in some 4,000 responses from a survey and an online petition, which garnered over 1200 signatures, council documents stated slashing lollipop staff from the budget would have a ‘low-negative’ community impact.

A former crossing guard voiced their concern on the online petition and said: “Please sign the petition. I have been a lollipop woman for 20 years. We save lives.”

Another added: “Don’t put money ahead of little lives.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “As part of the 2025/26 budget a budget proposal was put forward for a reduction to the school crossing patrol service – the proposal was accepted by Council on February 26. The new provision for School Crossing Patrols will now be based on an assessed need for a supported crossing.

“An external assessment was undertaken using national guidelines to assess the pedestrian and vehicle volumes as well as a review by our Roads team. A decision on sites which will continue to have crossing patrollers was made based on the outcomes of the assessment process.”

Depute Leader Shaun Macaulay said: “There were some really difficult decisions as the council did not have money to do absolutely everything.

“We recognise that school crossing patrollers are invaluable and last year we upgraded a lot of our school crossings to make sure it was easier to cross.

“We are happy to meet parent councils and other groups to talk about individual circumstances and see if there is something we can commit to.”