A MOVE to shelve plans to axe 55 school crossing patrols in Essex will be made at a county council meeting next week.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for highways, will be urged to abandon proposals to withdraw funding for lollipop men and women where there are zebra or pelican crossings.

At a full council meeting next Wednesday, Lib Dem councillors David Kendall and Theresa Higgins, councillor for New Town, Colchester, will proposeamotion calling on Mr Bass to continue funding the posts “in the interests of children’s safety”.

The motion follows our campaign, which saw us hand in petitions with nearly 2,000 signatures by Essex residents appalled at the idea.

Although the motion is to be moved by two Lib Dems, Brentwood councillor Mr Kendall said he believed it would have cross-party support.

See Thursday's paper for more