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Council to end school crossing patrols at some schools

March 25, 2025 4:36 pm

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School crossing patrol guides are to be discontinued at 17 schools in Edinburgh where “lollipop people” have not been in place for years.

The council is planning to “decommission” school crossing patrol guides at 17 schools in the city, which will reduce the cover it provides at around 140 sites in the capital. One of the schools, at South Morningside, has not had a crossing patrol guide for 26 years. This move has been suggested by council officers in areas where other road safety measures have been established such as pedestrian crossings, or roads have been closed as part of Spaces for People measures, and the council is clear that children’s safety will not be compromised.

But the Transport Convener also confirmed this move, as part of the council’s Road Safety Plan, is partly a response to the difficulties which the council has encountered in recruiting candidates for the 30+ vacant posts in the city. Only 14 guides have been recruited in the last 12 months, despite several rounds of recruitment.

Council officers have reviewed long term vacant school sites and have identified 17 where there is no longer any need for a “lollipop” person. Council officers state: “A site survey of each location was undertaken to consider the current usage, road and traffic environment. Pedestrian and vehicle count surveys were carried out and collision data was considered for each location.15 of the noted sites are located at sites with formal pedestrian crossing infrastructure and two sites are currently on roads that have been restricted to vehicles.”

Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said: “These 17 are long standing “gap sites” where we have had real issues in filling the posts. The council took on this list from the police and has not really been in control of it. Things have moved on in the last 10 years. I feel there is now a case to be made to reduce crossing patrols at these sites. As long as evidence and data is provided to say this is safe to do then I think this should be looked at.”

If councillors agree then the School Crossing locations which will be removed from the council list include the following schools: Craigentinny, Craigroyston, Stewart’s Melville, Flora Stevenson, Gracemount, George Watson’s, James Gillespie’s, Leith Academy, Oxgangs, Roseburn, Royal Mile, St Catherine’s RC, St Mary’s RC (two locations), St Peter’s RC, South Morningside, and Stockbridge.

There are currently several jobs available in Edinburgh for School Crossing Patrol Guides with an annual salary of £24,346 per annum for a 12 hour working week over 38 weeks of the year.

Bigger budget

Officers have broadly welcomed this report as it is based on a bigger budget than ever before with £6.6 million to spend.

There are three major projects included on the list, but it seems that only one is likely to receive attention in this financial year. The first is the Dalmahoy Junction where the council is buying a piece of land on which the signalised crossing will be built, and the report states that this has been moved to the 2025/26 programme. The cost of providing the scheme is around £1.3 million.

The second is the King’s Road Junction in Portobello where there have been fatalities and the junction is to be upgraded. This has been pushed back to next year as a budget has to be identified.

The third is the Davidson’s Mains minor roundabout where the council is to install three single stage zebra crossings. There is a note that this has been delayed until next year but that a signalised junction is now being considered as well as changes to make East Barnton Gardens one way exiting the junction westbound.

Improved infrastructure for Safe School Travel

Another key part of the Road Safety Plan is to improve infrastructure and road safety at schools by using a new process to audit school travel.

Council officers have pointed out that “the school travel plan process has been challenging, held up by the volume of travel audits, resource pressures and a historical convoluted sign-off process. The Council is currently responsible for developing and producing school travel plans for 140 schools in Edinburgh. Each school will now be able to complete their own travel plans independently. They will analyse travel surveys and draft the plan with help from council officers”.