MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for a Wirral lollipop lady to be spared the axe in the latest round of council budget cuts.

Fears are growing that Kath Kerr - who operates on a crossing in New Chester Road, New Ferry - could lose her job as part of the authority's £15.5m savings package.

Without her knowledge, fans of Kath launched a campaign group on Facebook named Save Kath Kerr Our Lollipop Lady From Cuts.

The petition was organised by and signed by local traders, shoppers and those who are helped across the road each day.

It was handed over to Bromborough Labour councillor Steve Niblock, who will present it to council when it meets on Monday night.

Simon Crabtree, owner of Simply Credit, which is situated near the crossing, told the Globe: "Kath has been a big part of our local community for many years and 100s of children have grown up with her on the crossing.

"Parents have been safe in the knowledge that she is there and children can cross in safety. In this area a lot of children do take themselves to School and it would be unsafe for them to cross without her.

"We as a community in New Ferry strongly believe that an accident will happen and a child will be injured if kath is removed.

"Kath has the full backing of the whole of the great community of New Ferry, not only the public, but all of the businesses support her.

"It is my feeling that if the Council do sack Kath then there will be a few Parents who take direct action in protest.

"The A41 is one of the busiest Roads on the Wirral and therefore the safety of those crossing it should be at the forefront of the Council's minds not penny pinching."

Kath's daughter Lyndsey organised the campaign to keep mum in the job.

She said: "I know my mum would like to say 'thank you' for the support over the last few weeks. She's been overwhelmed.

"The kids rely on mum to get them across the road. She's just such an important part of the community.

"It's such a dangerous road; in fact a lorry went through the red lights last week, a black car went through them a few days earlier, too.

Within 24 hours the group had received the support of more than 500 people. The petition was handed to Bromborough Labour councillor Steve Niblock on Friday.

Kath is known for dancing to the music of car radios stopped at the crossing. Kath has worked as a lollipop lady for around five years and operates on a crossing in New Chester Road.

The future of school crossing patrols across Wirral is on the line, along with community libraries and youth services as Wirral Council desperately struggles to tackle an ever-widening funding gap and save £18 million next year.

The authority has already saved more than £100m and a public consultation is underway on budget options designed to contribute towards further savings of £45m needed by 2017.

The latest cuts come as the authority sees its grant from central government cut by 57% over the last five years.

Wirral has already identified around £15.5m of savings through a “radical” transformation of how it operates, something chief executive Graham Burgess has said will “limit the impact on frontline services”.

A public consultation containing a further £4m of service cutback options is currently, of which the council needs to make £2.5m savings from.

A number of proposals included are ones previously consulted on, although council chief executive Graham Burgess says there are differences.

The removal of school crossing patrols is one such proposal that sparked outrage when it was put forward last year but Mr Burgess said it has been amended this time around.

Also on the table are the introduction of car parking charges at Fort Perch Rock and countryside parks across the borough.

Four youth centres could be closed as part of the cost-saving measures, with the location of the remaining four – Birkenhead, West Kirby, Wallasey and Eastham – reviewed.

The consultation closes on October 31.

All feedback will then be collated for councillors to consider when they set the budget for the coming financial year in December.

To have your say on the council’s proposals, visit wirral.gov.uk/futurecouncil or visit any One Stop Shop or library to access the online survey.