Every child should be able to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely. But far too often our roads are just too dangerous for them to do so. Two thirds of primary school children think streets in their community are unsafe for walking and cycling. And no wonder. Figures released today show that in 2014 the number of children killed or seriously injured rose for the first time in 20 years.
So it’s no suppose that proposed cuts to School Crossing Patrols across Birmingham have generated a lot of anger and fear among parents, children, school staff and of course the school crossing staff themselves.
For over half a century lollipop men and women have provided a vital service in helping children to cross busy roads at peak times. Despite what local Tories claim, it is the Government’s attacks on local road safety and council budgets which mean that we can no longer rely on school crossing patrols to help keep the journey to school safe. Two thirds of local authorities have had cut their number of school crossing patrols since 2010. That’s 1000 fewer lollipop men and women since David Cameron became Prime Minster.
Birmingham City Council are having to make extremely difficult decisions about the public services they have to cut – and sadly that now includes the number of number of lollipop men and women on our streets. But, as I have been saying as Labour’s Shadow Roads Minister for the past year, safe routes to school are a priority.
That is why I am campaigning with other Labour Birmingham MP’s like Jack Dromey, the Crossing Patrol Staff and Unions who represent them, worried parents, children and teachers, and the Birmingham Mail to save the School Crossing Patrol Service across our city.
Children’s safety and wellbeing must come first.
If you agree, then please sign the Birmingham Mail’s petition to save the School Crossing Patrols – and join us outside Council House on Monday 9th February at 5pm, when we will hand over the petition to the Council.
I hope you will back this campaign to protect safe routes to school – and back Labour’s commitment to restore road safety as a national priority too.
