Lollipop men and women could be axed in Moray as part of the council’s extreme cost-cutting drive.
School crossing patrollers are among a host of expenses that local authority finance chiefs have asked councillors to consider doing away with.
The financially ailing body has been told its current spending levels are “unsustainable” and that “dramatic” service changes need to be implemented by 2018.
Corporate director Mark Palmer has issued elected members with a report outlining a string of cuts that could recoup £4million if approved.
Mr Palmer says the authority is under no legal obligation to ensure that children arrive safely at school, and has advised members that scrapping crossing patrollers could save £259,000 each year.
He added: “It is the duty of parents to ensure their children have a safe journey to school, there is no legal obligation on local authorities to provide school crossing patrollers.”
Last night, parents voiced concern that the move would endanger youngsters’ lives if approved.
Elgin mum Dawn Smith walks her two young children along the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road to reach East End Primary School every day.
She said that the journey was already a perilous one, even with patrollers doing their best to keep the route safe.
Ms Smith said: “The road is a death-trap, and trying to cross at certain parts is almost impossible even with the lollipop man.
“I can guarantee a child would get hit by a car if this went forward.
“Every parent who takes their child to school on that road will be absolutely furious that this is being suggested.”
Other cost-cutting initiatives tabled by Mr Palmer include closing down six libraries and two swimming pools, and scrapping a community bus scheme that helps pensioners in rural areas get out and about.
Mr Palmer has also suggested that fewer roads could be cleared in winter weather.
Council convener Allan Wright conceded that some of the options would be unpopular among Moray residents.
But he stressed that the report was intended as a “discussion paper” and that the public would be afforded the opportunity to influence the cuts that are ultimately enacted.
Mr Wright said: “We will carry out five months of public consultation around this, we’re engaging with people as never before.
“I promise we have not made up our minds here, these are just things Mr Palmer has asked us to look into.”
He added: “But the big issue is that, even if we were to take forward all of these ideas, we would still save less than half of the £10million we need to by March, 2018.”