The number of operated school crossing patrols will drop to 26

THE number of school crossing patrols in North Somerset will be cut to 26 after councillors rubber-stamped the move.

The plan means 15 patrols currently run by North Somerset Council will be scrapped in September, although the authority says 11 of those sites are currently vacant.

A crossing patrol Fosseway by St John the Evangelist Primary School in Clevedon, one near to Yatton Primary School on High Street and one on Portishead High Street near to St Peter’s Primary School will be cut.

A report by officers from the council’s children and young people’s services department said the move would save the authority £31,898 by 2014, with the average annual cost of running a patrol £2,100 annually.

Councillors at the authority’s children and young people’s services policy and scrutiny panel approved the plans at a meeting on Thursday.

A public comments period will now be initiated until August 31.

The staff working at the four sites to be cut will be redeployed to other sites.