CORNWALL Council has revealed plans to axe 19 school crossing patrols across the county including the one at New Road in Callington.

The site near the Co-op car park, used by pupils of Callington Primary?School, is said not to meet national criteria for needing a lollipop lady or man.

In a statement, Cornwall Council said: ‘School crossing patrol sites across Cornwall are periodically reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the national guidance set out by Road Safety GB and the school crossing patrol policy adopted by the council last year.

‘Following the most recent review, 19 sites have been identified as falling short of the numbers required in the national criteria to justify the continuing provision of a school crossing patrol.

‘This specific criteria is based on the number of vehicles passing the crossing point, combined with the number of children crossing, during the busiest 30-minute period in the morning and afternoon.

‘Unfortunately, as these sites no longer meet the criteria, the council will reluctantly cease funding the school crossing patrol at the end of the 2016 summer term.

‘We recognise, however, that school crossing patrols are greatly valued by both parents and schools and so are offering to continue to provide training, uniforms and equipment if the individual schools are prepared to meet the costs of employing the patrols.’

The crossing is mainly used by students from Callington Primary School, but nobody at the school was available for comment this week because key staff were away on residential trips.

A spokesperson for Callington Town Council said: ‘This news is of great interest to the town council and if there is a way we can work with the school, we will endeavour to have conversations with the head teacher and the governors to see if there is any joint thinking that we can consider.’