Child safety concerns over lollipop people cuts

Angeline Simpson said the changes would make roads near schools "dangerous"

Parents in Aberdeenshire have claimed the council is "putting children at risk" after a decision to remove lollipop men and ladies from roads near schools.

Aberdeenshire Council officers said the cut to the school crossing patrol service would save £436,000.

A budget report presented on Thursday said that a safe journey to school was "the responsibility of parents and carers."

The service comes to an end in July.

An online petition against the changes has gathered about 2,000 signatures.

Ms Simpson said the move "defeats the purpose" of a scheme in Fraserburgh which closes two roads near a school

Angeline Simpson is chair on the parent council at Fraserburgh's South Park School - which her daughter attends.

An 18-month pilot is ongoing at the school, which means some roads are closed nearby in a bid to improve safety.

The Aberdeenshire Council-supported scheme is enforceable by Police Scotland and bans access to two streets during peak time school drop-off and pick-up times.

Ms Simpson said losing the school's lollipop man "defeats the purpose of the scheme" and would lead to congestion as parents would choose to drive children to school.

She added: "Without the lollipop man there, my daughter couldn't walk to and from school on her own.

"We're just going to go back to square one with more cars and more congestion at the school, it would definitely be dangerous."

The council said school crossing patrol provision was a "non-statutory service".

A spokesman added: "Aberdeenshire Council will continue its road safety educational programmes in schools and assist community-led solutions in areas where a crossing patrol is desired."