A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save lollipop men and women in Kidderminster who face losing their jobs as part of council cost cutting measures.

Worcestershire County Council is set to axe 15 school crossing patrols, seven of which are in Kidderminster, from sites which have zebra or light controlled crossings.

But Kidderminster councillor Fran Oborski said the plan could put the lives of children in danger and has launched petitions, alongside fellow Liberal Democrat Councillor Shazu Miah, to halt the plan.

The council said this would bring the authority in line with national policy and help them make £45,000 annual savings.

A spokesman added three of the 15 sites is currently vacant – meaning 12 existing jobs are under threat – and the changes will come into effect in September.

The affected Kidderminster sites are Borrington Road, which serves Comberton Primary School, and Comberton Road which is used by King Charles I pupils.

Pupils of St Ambrose, St George’s CE and Holy Trinity schools also face losing their patrol on Birmingham Road.

Two sites at Franche Road and Chestnut Grove, which serve Heronswood and Franche Primary are also under threat, as is Blakebrook which is used by St John’s Primary.

A school crossing patrol officer, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have seen driving standards decline mainly due to the use of gadgets such as mobile phones, whether talking or texting, and have had several dangerous incidents occur.

“I've often held people back due to drivers ignoring the red lights. As I earn just over £50 per week, any financial saving seems rather trivial, when safety is an issue.”

Councillor Oborski said thousands of children utilise the patrols daily on some of the busiest roads in the district. She has initiated petitions with Comberton and King Charles I schools while Councillor Miah, who is chair of governors at St George’s School, is coordinating the Birmingham Road campaign.

She said: “The proposal could endanger children’s lives.

“Refusing to consider new patrols at sites where there are already pelican or zebra crossings is entirely different from removing them from long established sites where parents rely on their presence to reassure them that it is safe to let their children walk to school alone.

“I am really worried that if these proposals go ahead the result will be that more children will be taken to school by car which will increase the dangers and congestion and may well add to the childhood obesity which is a major health issue in this district.”

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "The safety of our children and young people getting to and from schools in this county is really important to us.

"Our priority is that we have school crossing patrols at sites where they are needed. We are proposing to only remove patrols that are at sites where zebra or light controlled crossings already exist to enable safe crossing or where national policy determines it does not meet need.

"We currently have patrols that work on light controlled crossings or zebra crossings and in many cases they pre-date the crossing being installed.

"Road safety education and training will be offered to schools affected by these proposed changes.

"We will be consulting with staff affected and listening to their feedback. We are working towards bringing in the changes by the start of the new school term in September."