PARENTS who have criticised plans to slash the number of crossing patrols have had their final say as the consultation closed.

Four mums collected signatures outside Pontnewydd Primary School against the plans to cut the school crossing patrol on Maendy Way.

A second crossing patrol at the school, on Bryn Celyn Road, will remain.

Over a two week period they collected 600 signatures that were handed into Torfaen Council last Friday.

Kathy Fields, who collected signatures with Nicky Harris, Michelle Morgan and Clare Lewis, said: “We are very concerned about how our children’s safety will be effected by the job cuts.

“We feel that the lollipop is so important to our children’s safety at the school.”

The plan is to halve the number of crossing patrol sites from 40 to 19, and none of the 17 lunchtime operations in the borough will remain.

Alix Jennings, 35, takes her three children on the school run to Victoria Primary School.

The review proposes removing the two crossing patrols at the school; on Cwmavon Road and the vacant post on Lower Harpers Road.

She described the proposals as “ridiculous” adding: “These are children’s lives that are being put at risk. When it comes to children and cars then it’s an accident waiting to happen and more needs to be done to prevent this, not take it away.”

The proposals also set out that Cwmffrwdoer Primary School will lose three patrols.

Governor, Jason Peake called the proposal “crazy” due to the number of junctions and blind spots.

Two Pontnewynydd Primary School parents, Sian Price and Vicki Carter, are against the proposals to remove the crossing patrol from Limekiln Road.

They called the service ‘vital’ and have both submitted letters to Torfaen council as part of the consultation.

It is estimated the changes will save the authority around £65,000 a year if the review is approved later this month.

Executive member for neighbourhood services, John Cunningham said: “All sites have been reviewed in-line with the national criteria and as a result it is clear that certain patrols are no longer justified.”

A full list of the proposed changes can be seen at bit.ly/1i2Lq3j