News / Politics
Lollipop ladies to remain and museums to stay open
Proposed cuts to Bristol’s school crossing patrols, museums and libraries which were met with resentment across the city have been scrapped.
The discarding of these controversial proposals have been widely welcomed but will nevertheless be seen as another U-turn from Bristol’s Green-led council.
Labour group leader Tom Renhard said he was “relieved”, calling the original proposals “clearly a terrible idea with no alternative safety measures identified (which) shouldn’t have been on the table to begin with”.
is needed now More than ever
The new budget recommendation report was published on the council website on Friday evening.
Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee at City Hall, said: “We have left no stone unturned, despite our search for savings, to ensure that we can keep our school crossing patrols.
“This is in the context of being left with a £52m deficit.
“Although under the new UK Labour government our core spending power has not increased as much as it did in previous years, we now have just about enough headroom to retain these invaluable public servants to keep our children safe on the journey to school.
“If Bristol City Council does not set a balanced budget, government commissioners would come in, take over the council and strip out services like this and so many other things that the council does, which are not mandatory in law.
“On top of that, commissioners would look to sell council assets to make up the shortfall, which is precisely what’s happening in Birmingham.
“I am thankful that we will not have to cut our school crossing patrols.”
The Red Lodge was one of three museums across Bristol earmarked for closure – photo: Martin Booth
Lib Dem councillor Tim Kent added: “I am delighted that the council is not pressing ahead with cuts to our school crossing patrols, museums and libraries.
“Many residents reached out to me expressing their concerns about the potential cuts to school crossing staff, which are essential community assets and keeping our children safe on our often busy roads.”
Renhard said that “closing museums for such minimal savings would have been an act of cultural vandalism” and that the plan to cut Bristol’s libraries budget in half “would have had a devastating effect”.
“Bristol’s libraries service clearly needs more investment, not less,” said Renhard.
“Our branch libraries provide an invaluable service to communities so we’re pleased they’ve belatedly recognised this and scrapped their plans to permanently close up to 19 libraries.
“Our thanks go to the many residents who made their voices heard.”
The draft budget will be presented to the strategy & resources committee on February 3 ahead of the full council meeting on February 25.
Main photo: Devon County Council
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