FEARS have been raised that a child safety course in Wrexham primary schools might be cut because of a lack of funding.
Since the road-training course Kerbcraft was introduced it is claimed there have been no fatalities or serious accidents outside schools.
But, due to a 21 per cent reduction in grant funding from Welsh Government, there are fears the course could be radically cut down or lost altogether in the 31 Wrexham schools.
Kerbcraft is a child pedestrian training programme for pupils aged five to seven years.
The scheme has seen 150 volunteers, supported by council officers, train more than 1,150 pupils.
One of the schools concerned about the future of the scheme is Cefn Mawr CP.
Secretary Tracey Evans said this term’s programme might be the last, unless help could be found to keep it running.
“Two people from the local authority teach the children how to cross the road safely.
“They start in the playground and talk about where to stand, the safest places to cross, what to look out for, and eventually they take them out onto the street.”
The programme has been running for at least seven years and the trainers were “fantastic”, she said, but now help was desperately being sought to ensure it could run again.
Tara Green, Rhostyllen community councillor and Kerbcraft volunteer, said the course may have to be cut in half.
“There is no way that you can cram a 12-week course into six weeks,” she said.
“This course is an essential part of an education for life and I, along with other volunteers will be writing to members of the council to express our concerns.”
Cllr David A. Bithell, leader of Wrexham Independent Group, said: “We are seeing more and more grant funding being cut from the Welsh Government which impacts on local services. I have written to Wrexham Council to find out what is happening and I am also raising my concerns to the chief executive.”
He said the Welsh Government had given Wrexham Council a 1.9 per cent budget increase, but then cut the road safety grant by 21 per cent.
Taith and Wrexham Council were unavailable for comment. commenttime of going to press.