Bedford Borough Conservatives have slammed the Liberal Democrats’ staggering hypocrisy over school crossing patrol cuts, revealing how they quietly dismantled the very service they now pretend to champion.

Official council records confirm that under the former Lib Dem Mayor, the number of school crossing patrols was secretly slashed from 22 to 14 between 2015 and 2023. No petitions, no announcements, no honesty with residents - just a quiet cut of more than a third.

At Full Council on 2nd July the Lib Dem’s hypocrisy was on full show as they pretended to care about school crossing patrols that are currently vacant, whilst remaining tight-lipped about their own actions, slashing the number of patrols when they were in office.

Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Graeme Coombes commented,

"There are currently 12 sites in the Borough that are measured as qualifying for a manned school crossing patrol. There are two posts currently unfilled which are being readvertised to be filled as soon as possible. The hypocrisy of the Liberal Democrats on school crossing patrols is breathtaking, but unsurprising. Between 2015 and 2023, when they were in office, the number of school crossing patrols across Bedford Borough fell from 22 to 14, a drop of more than 36% - hardly a record to be proud of. 

During last night's debate the Lib Dem Leader stated "say one thing in opposition, get in power, do a completely different thing". He clearly practices what he preaches, as the Administration in which he was happy to serve slashed the number of school crossing patrols by more than a third. Now he's suddenly crying crocodile tears over school crossing patrols and trying to and pretend to residents that he suddenly cares."

 Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Services, Councillor Marc Frost, commented,

“This is a cynical and shameless attempt to rewrite history. 

The Lib Dems gutted school crossing patrols by a staggering 36% while no one was looking, then have the nerve to pretend they care. This has nothing to do with child safety. It is cheap political theatre.”