Northamptonshire school patrols saved from council axe

Communities in Northamptonshire have saved 11 school crossing patrols after politicians axed them.

In December last year Northamptonshire County Council said it would withdraw its school crossing patrol service as part of a £73m series of cuts.

The council said local groups must step in if they wanted to keep the patrols.

On Wednesday, the council announced 11 community groups have come forward to finance school patrol officers at sites across the county.

Andre Gonzalez De Savage, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for infrastructure, said: "Because of basic recruitment, administrative and training costs, the more communities which take part in the scheme the more cost-effective it becomes per site."

Legally, school crossing patrol officers have to be employed by the county council so that they have the powers to stop vehicles at crossings.

The scheme will mean the patrol staff are employed by the council even though the school crossing patrol service will be paid for by the communities themselves.

Six other community groups have also told the council they have strong interest in taking part in the scheme.