School crossing patrols to be scrapped for permanent crossings

A number of school crossing patrols in Sandwell will be replaced with permanent zebra crossings.

Sandwell Council plans to scrap five vacant school crossing positions and replace them with the fixed crossings in a bid to save money.

The plan, which forms part of the Labour-run authority’s budget proposals for the coming year, would save £25,000 a year from its revenue ‘day-to-day’ budget.

The council said there were nine school crossing patrol vacancies with two vacant for more than 18 months. Several positions have not been filled for more than a year.

The location of the five new replacement crossings has not been confirmed by the council but would be those “best served by a permanent crossing,” it said.

Council tax and the cost of garden waste collections are set to rise in Sandwell next year to cover a £17m hole in the council’s budget.

The council plans to make more than £8m worth of cuts and savings as well as tap into just over £9m from its reserves to cover the shortfall in its finances for 2026/27.

The budget proposal said: “Due to ongoing vacancies and recruitment challenges in the school crossing patrol service, it is proposed for 2026/2027 to replace five unfilled patrol positions with capital-funded formal pedestrian crossings, offering safe, all-day community access while generating year-on-year revenue efficiencies and making use of annual grants for permanent road safety improvements.”

Councillor Keith Allcock, cabinet member for environment and highways at Sandwell Council, added: “Road safety is our highest priority, and we are seeking the best way to achieve this.

“Over the past 20 years, Sandwell has halved the number of casualties on its roads, including reducing child casualties by 67 per cent. 

“This big reduction follows a targeted programme of engineering and education measures, and supporting police enforcement action, work which will continue to keep improving safety.

“Unfortunately, we have had several of our valued lollipop positions vacant for a while due to unfilled posts. 

“We want to find permanent solutions to allow parents to have confidence that children can cross our roads safely. 

“These new crossings will also be there all day, every day providing a welcome road safety improvement that benefits the whole community.

“This is part of our roll out of plans to make our roads even safer. Our Phase 1 Community Road Safety Concern Programme is being designed now with the first of 38 projects starting in January.”

The move was discussed by the council’s budget scrutiny committee at a meeting on November 5.

Alan Lunt, the council’s director for place, told councillors: “It is difficult to recruit. 

“Replacing a vacant post with a physical school crossing ensures the safety for children crossing the road and ultimately it does generate an efficiency compared to the cost of employing a school crossing patrol.”