Hampshire County Council withdraws 11 school crossing patrols

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 13 Oct, 06:03 · Archive

Hampshire County Council has withdrawn 11 school crossing patrol sites, saving £66,000 a year.

Hampshire County Council has withdrawn 11 school crossing patrol sites, saving the authority approximately £66,000 per year, according to figures released under a Freedom of Information request. The council reviewed 30 sites following a cabinet decision in October 2024 relating to 156 approved crossing patrol locations. Of the 30 sites reviewed so far, 11 patrols have been withdrawn, 18 remain in operation and one is still under review.

Each withdrawn patrol saves around £6,000 annually. The council said the figures were gathered through day-to-day operation of the school crossing patrol service rather than through a systematic review of all 156 sites. According to the authority, crossing patrol sites are reassessed when an officer leaves their post rather than being automatically replaced. If a location no longer meets national criteria, recruitment does not proceed and the patrol is removed.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson confirmed there is 'no planned systematic review' of all crossing patrol sites, with assessments taking place only when posts become vacant. County councillor Steve Broomfield said he had been consulted about the removal of the patrol on Kings Copse Avenue and understood the decision was linked to both the age of pupils using the crossing and ongoing recruitment difficulties, noting that secondary school crossings were not considered a priority for patrols.

How it is being reported

• Council withdraws 11 school crossing patrols, saving £66,000 a yearEleven school crossing patrol sites have been withdrawn across Hampshire, saving the county council around £66,000 a year, newly released figures show.Basingstoke Gazette · 13 Oct, 05:00
• Council withdraws 11 school crossing patrols, saving £66,000 a yearHampshire County Council withdraws 11 school crossing patrols, saving £66,000 a year, after an FOI review of sites in Basingstoke and across Hampshire.Romsey Advertiser · 13 Oct, 05:00
• Council withdraws 11 school crossing patrols, saving £66,000 a yearEleven school crossing patrol sites have been withdrawn across Hampshire, saving the county council around £66,000 a year, newly released figures show.Romsey Advertiser · 12 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Hampshire County Council · Hampshire · Steve Broomfield · Kings Copse Avenue

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