PARENTS are celebrating after council bosses backed down over the removal of five school crossing patrols in Trafford.

The decision has been taken as part of an effort to axe £21.5m from the 2015/2016 budget, with council tax bills for residents remaining frozen for the fifth consecutive year.

Under the latest proposals parents who campaigned at Sale's Tyntesfield Primary School to keep their patrol man on the busy A56 have had their efforts rewarded, after the councillors decided to propose retention, as they did for patrols in Streford at both St Matthew's and St Ann's RC/Victoria Park and Gorse Hill/Stretford High.

Meanwhile the patrol at Seymour Park Primary will be retained until the end of March 2016 to enable a review to take place.

Tyntesfield head teacher Kylie Spark said: "We are delighted with the news that we are to retain our school crossing patrol on Washway Road.

"The efforts and dedication shown by our parents, children and all our supporters have been carefully considered and are reflected in the council’s decision, which has resulted in this extremely positive outcome.

"Washway Road presents our local community with severe congestion issues; therefore, the presence of the crossing patrolman, John, has been and is paramount in ensuring a safer, healthier and happier environment for our parents and children when travelling to and from school."

"This campaign has also received the support of the wider community and on behalf of Tyntesfield Primary School and our governors, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work, loyalty and determination shown by all involved in this successful campaign."

Labour leader Cllr Andrew Western said: 'I'm really pleased that the Tories have listened to Trafford residents and Labour councillors in deciding to retain the patrols along the A56.

"It's the right decision, and frankly the proposal should never have been on the table in the first place."

However, the revised budget, will bring little cheer to the parents of more than 30 schools set to lose their patrols, the 141 council workers being shown the door, the likely closure of at least three of the borough's libraries and the £105,000 slashing of the book budget to the remainder.

The cuts also will see the council sponsored school holiday activities, currently subject to consultation, for the borough's children budget of £377,000 scrapped but with the authority's Youth Trust getting an extra £130,000. There will be staff losses among those monitoring safety of the public on CCTV cameras, while car parking parking charges will be doubled.

The major axe is still set to fall on the Children, Families and Wellbeing budget, which will lose up to £15.2m, leading to the likely closure of children and young persons centres in Altrincham, Sale Urmston and Old Trafford.

It is also still proposed to close six open access youth centres, although talks are still ongoing to determine their future. Gorse Hill Studios, which was also earmarked for closure is set to become a 'community interest' self funding organisation.

Fees and charges are likely to hiked at centres, including the Sale Waterside, and the borough's music service to help generate additional revenue.

In addition, Connexions and education welfare services will only deliver the minimum statutory requirement unless it can be funded by generating income.

The authority says it will protect the most vulnerable but still intends to re-shape adult social care and will cut off funding for those people needing cleaning, domestics, shopping and laundry and ironing.

The council is consulting with providers to 'set a fair price for care' and to ensure it is getting value for money.

The authority is also aiming to continue to develop new models for people with learning disability and an all age integrated health and social care service, which it says will be community based, while cutting money from its budget

Telecare services, which supports people living in their own homes, will be face funding cuts as will the Youth Offending service, which will also be restructured.

The authority intends to maintain two children and young people centres at both Partington and Stretford and the Talk Shop Centre for 11 to 18 year olds in Sale.

Cllr Western added: "The council budget overall remains a bad deal for Trafford residents, with more than £20 million stripped out of our services. "Millions are being taken from the child and adult social care budgets whilst four children's centres, all our youth centres and three libraries are earmarked for closure.

"Young and vulnerable people are bearing the brunt of this latest round of cuts and both locally and nationally the Conservatives should be ashamed."

Council leader Sean Anstee said: "Making these savings is tough, however, we must concentrate on what we can do with the money we have available to provide services in the most cost effective and efficient way.

"We are investing in technology, transforming how we operate and providing services in partnership to maintain as much provision as possible, however, we will continue to need the support and understanding, willingness and enthusiasm of our residents whilst we reshape council services and make sure Trafford remains a great place to live."