WEST Fife parents believe a drop in the number of school crossing patrol officers is putting children at risk.
Dunfermline Central councillor Aude Boubaker-Calder said the shortage had led to mums and dads flagging up concerns at Pitreavie, St Margaret's, Pittencrieff and Crossford primary schools.
She said there had been a reduction of 20 "lollipop persons" in the Kingdom, from 76 in 2015-16 to 56 in 2022-23, and tabled a motion at the last Fife Council meeting.
Cllr Boubaker-Calder explained: "I want to be able to answer the families that got in touch with me and tell them that we are taking this seriously and we are doing something about it."
She pointed out that so many Fife schools are struggling with congestion, poor parking and high levels of traffic at drop-off and pick-up times at schools, and pointed out the "vital role" crossing patrol officers play by giving parents, especially those who are working, "peace of mind" that their children will be escorted across busy roads.
Giving a few examples, she said parents of pupils at Pitreavie Primary had complained that they had to cross "one of the busiest roads in Dunfermline" - Queensferry Road - during rush hour without anyone to assist.
The Lib Dem councillor added: "This has been compounded by the removal of school buses with no notice this term."
She added that parents had raised concerns about the dangers of young children crossing Appin Crescent, one of the main routes through the city, on the way to St Margaret's without a school crossing patrol officer.
Cllr Boubaker-Calder said mums and dads voiced similar fears for unescorted Crossford pupils trying to navigate Waggon Road and the A994 Cairneyhill Road, and children attempting to cross William Street and Pittencrieff Street to get to Pittencrieff Primary without 'lollipop' assistance.
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She said: "They've all raised concerns about the lack of school crossing patrol officers at some key crossing points at the busiest roads and times of the day.
"I know there are different issues at play, and I don't want to play politics, it's about making sure our children are safe and they can go to school in a safe manner."
She said crossing patrol officers play an important role in ensuring the safety, and promoting the health and environmental benefits, of children walking to school instead of being taken by car.
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The Lib Dem councillor added that a "friendly lollipop person" can have a positive impact on a child's day and remind drivers to slow down and "behave themselves".
She said: "We're in a situation where all these benefits for our children are at risk.
"Over the years we've seen lollipop people disappear from outside our schools, it's not a feeling among the community, it's backed up by numbers.
"In the past few years we've seen a reduction of 20 dedicated lollipop staff in Fife.
"That's about a quarter of the total number, a quarter of the roads which were protected by crossing guards before which are not being protected any more."
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