Suffolk County Council plans to cut 1,500 jobs by 2012

Suffolk County Council is to cut its workforce by up to 1,500 people by April 2012 as part of its efforts to save £125m over the next four years.

The county's entire network of lollipop men and women is also set to be axed.

Deputy leader Jane Storey said: "There are 1,100 posts set to go in the next financial year out of the non-school workforce.

"Undoubtedly there will be redundancies but the authority hopes many will go through natural turnover."

Nearly 400 posts will also be lost at the Conservative-controlled council as part of budget cutbacks for the present financial year.

Libraries threat

This will bring the total number of potential job cuts from now until April 2012 to nearly 1,500, a council spokesman said.

"The council must save up to £125m in the next four years, with an immediate need to slash nearly £43m from the 2011-12 budget.

"One or two libraries could also be closed and some country parks will come under the control of local communities.''

The proposals will be discussed by the county's finance scrutiny committee next week.

They would not be officially approved until a final vote on 17 February next year.