Children across Moray are being put in danger by “entirely avoidable” road safety cuts, according to opposition councillors.
Members of the local authority’s SNP group have blasted the “completely irresponsible” decision to slash funding which will mean the loss of half the region’s school crossing patrollers.
Last night the council’s leader denied that the move would increase the risks to children, and said it was a matter the administration takes “extremely seriously”.
SNP councillor Graham Leadbitter said: “Road safety is a vital area of concern for Moray and sadly there are few people who do not know someone who has been killed or seriously injured on our roads at some time.
“The council’s administration will not even acknowledge that the road safety risk could have changed as a result of those decisions and would not even support a proper assessment of that risk.
“It is a completely irresponsible attitude to road safety in our region and is, arguably, a failure of their statutory responsibility to provide road safety education.”
SNP member for Buckie, Sonya Warren, said the councillors who backed the cuts should be “ashamed of themselves”.
She said: “Removal of school crossing patrols is clearly increasing road safety risk to children.
“Parents have huge concerns about their children’s safety and it is highly likely that many will now just drive their kids to school on safety grounds, which will add to the congestion in streets around our schools.
“This was entirely avoidable and did not need to be taken as a budget cut.”
Council leader George Alexander said: “It is untrue to claim that the removal of crossing patrols is clearly increasing road safety risk to children.
“Road safety is a matter the Moray Council administration group takes extremely seriously, evidenced by the Moray Road Safety Plan which was approved by the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee.
“Unfortunately the SNP chose to use this opportunity to attack the council’s budget, which was approved last February, while ignoring the fact that Moray has amongst the lowest road traffic injuries and deaths in the country.
“Today’s attack simply proves how bereft the SNP group is of constructive suggestions.”