New school walking routes

Cheshire East Council's cabinet has re-confirmed its previous decision that five walking routes to schools – assessed as available – will now go ahead.

The changes will be implemented in September 2017 – six months later than originally intended.

A subsidy will be available, as a transitional arrangement, until pupils currently accessing free school buses complete their education or move to another school.

Highways improvements are proposed to some routes where parents and schools have expressed concern over lighting and safety.

There will be a continuation of activities, including road safety workshops, a cycling strategy and 'bikeability' training, 20mph zones around schools, supporting schools in the development of walking routes, investing in crossing patrols and improvements to footpaths and public rights of way on school routes.

Five walking routes have been assessed as being 'available to be walked'. These are to schools in Tytherington, Poynton, Nantwich and Wheelock.

Councillor Liz Durham, cabinet member for children and families said: "It is only fair that the council should no longer fund free school transport where walking routes are assessed as being available because they meet the recognised national criteria.

"It is the responsibility of parents or carers to ensure their child gets to school safely and not that of the council. We are not compelling children to walk these routes but they are assessed as being 'available' if parents feel this is appropriate. Many parents accompany their children or ensure they get to school by car, bike or public transport.

"Our recommendation is about fairly, equitably and consistently applying an existing policy and government guidelines, which apply to all schools across the country.

"Personal safety has been raised as an issue, but walking to school is not compulsory.

"Parents must make the decision on how best to get their children to school safely and we are hoping that schools will engage with us in pursuing the best implementation of the future travel plans for their pupils."

The routes were first approved in June but the recommendation was recalled for re-examination by the council's overview and scrutiny committee.

Under the council's 'Available Walking Routes' policy, free transport is provided to primary pupils who would have to walk two miles or more to school and to secondary school pupils who would have to walk three miles or more. This is unaffected.

However, councils are also required by law to provide free travel where a pupil lives within the statutory walking distance to school but does not have a walking route available.

A total of 1,152 Cheshire East students are currently receiving home-to-school transport because no walking route is available – which represents 35 per cent of children entitled to transport provision. This compares with figure of 26.5 per cent in Cheshire West and Chester and just 10 per cent in Staffordshire.

For further information on available walking routes to school, including frequently asked questions visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/availablewalkingroutes

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