MP Sadiq Khan is asking people to oppose council plans for scrapping funding lollipop ladies and men.

A full council meeting this evening will decide whether Wandsworth Council will axe the School Crossing Patrol (SCP) service, which would make a saving of £198,000 a year.

The jobs of 29 lollipop men and women are under threat, while the service could be provided by schools, volunteers or a private company.

Mr Khan is encouraging people to attend the meeting and sign a petition against the cuts, as well as to email their councillor.

He said: "It’s my firm belief that Wandsworth Council, and councillors, have got it completely wrong on this issue.

"Their first priority should be keeping our children safe, not penny pinching.

"Nationally, local authorities are cutting funding on road safety, the result has been more people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

"We can’t have this happen in Wandsworth - we should be working to improve road safety, not making cuts that remove some of the most effective measures to keep our children safe on local roads."

Last week a council spokesperson said: "Virtually all young children are brought to school by their parents.

"Parents simply don’t allow small children to make this journey on their own, especially if it involves crossing roads.

"Only around a third of schools in the borough actually have a patroller.

"We are now discussing with these head teachers and school governors how they can best provide this service in future, if they wish to keep it.

"At a time when statutory town hall services are facing severe budget constraints, it is only fair that schools which benefit from this service are asked if they are prepared to pay for it."

The council has been responsible for the SCP service since 2000 after taking it over from the Metropolitan Police.

In 2010 to 2011, Wandsworth Council spent £283,410 on road safety education, training and campaigns.

The meeting is taking place tonight at 7.30pm, in Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street.

There are three rallys against cuts expected to take place before the meeting at 6.30pm.

Campaigners are calling attention to plans to sell off Elliott School playing fields, make adventure playground staff redundant as well as campaigners against the cuts to the SCP.