CABINET members are set to discuss plans to save millions of pounds in Hampshire, including closing up to half of the county’s recycling centres and axeing school crossing patrols.

Last month, Hampshire County Council’s councillors voted to support proposals to make the savings.

Officers at the county council suggested millions could be conserved by cuts, including school crossing patrols, saving £1.2m, while subsidised bus services and community transport could lose their entire funding pot to save £4m.

They also suggest that £1.2m could be saved by closing household waste recycling centres and amending the hours of the rest.

At an economy, transport and environment select committee in September, the majority of councillors voted to recommend the proposals to the cabinet – with the exception of the three Liberal Democrat councillors Rupert Kyrle, Martin Todd and David Simpson.

The proposed cuts are part of a plan by the county council to address an anticipated budget shortfall of £140m by April 2019.

Cllr Simpson criticised the plans stating that “it only takes one child to run into the road because there wasn’t a crossing patrol there”.

As previously reported, more than 1,200 people have signed a petition after Test Valley Community Services (TVCS) raised fears over losing its funding.

TVCS chair Dorothy Baverstock said: “We do not want anything extra, just what we had before.”

However, county council leader Roy Perry defended the decision.

He said: “We have been reporting for some time now that opportunities for reducing costs are getting harder to find.

“With less money available and growing demand for council services, tough decisions are having to be made about what the county council can and cannot do in the future.”

The proposals follow a public consultation which saw nearly 4,000 responses.

The consultation found changes to local services was the least preferred option (50 per cent), while two thirds (67 per cent) would support money to be made through raising or bringing in new charges to help cover costs.

Once the proposals have been discussed at cabinet today, a final decision will be made on Thursday, November 2.

Further consultations with residents and stakeholders will then be conducted where necessary.