IN view of the worries which have been expressed to me and in the media about the future of school crossing attendants, I would welcome an opportunity to clarify the Council's position on this issue.

On October 23 the Environment Scrutiny Committee received a report which indicated, among other things, that the Council had for many years been unable to recruit and retain a full complement of school crossing attendants. It was reported that other Councils had taken different initiatives on school journey safety such as "human trains" where attendants pick children up and walk them in a 'crocodile' from home to school.

The Scrutiny Committee decided to ask officers to prepare a report on the pros and cons of different ways of spending the school safety budget with a view to maximising the safety of our children. If the report demonstrates that our current provision is the best way of organising safe journeys to school it will be retained. But if it is demonstrated that we can improve children's safety by adopting more novel approaches, then those new approaches will be introduced. At all times the safety of children must be paramount. Surely, no-one could argue with that.

Councillor Guy Harkin

Cabinet Member -- Environment,

Town Hall, Bolton.