Whittington school transport – looks like a NO

The massive price increases that Staffordshire County are imposing on school transport for those who don’t qualify for free bus travel from Whittington look set to hit local people hard.

A number of youngsters in the village just fail to qualify for free travel because they live marginally less than the 3 mile qualifying limit. The only other criteria which would secure free travel is if the walking route to King Edward School in Lichfield was deemed by the County to be unsafe for children.

I arranged for the route to be reassessed and whilst I don’t know for certain the decision my talks with an official today do not fill me with much hope. I’ve again written to them with my concerns on the route but actually I think it’s the County’s assessment criteria which is outdated. This is what it says…

1.1 Each case will be considered on its merits.

1.2 All children are assumed to be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult

2. Factors to be considered

1.1 The Authority will determine whether the route is one along which a child, accompanied by a parent or responsible adult as necessary, can walk with reasonable safety to school.

1.2 Secondary age pupils are, broadly speaking, considered as competent as pedestrians as adults

2.2 Consideration will be given to the following factors to determine whether a route is safe for an accompanied child.

a) Any disabilities the child may have

b) The route

- Where a footway exists, it will normally be assumed to provide a safe route for that part of the journey.

- Where a verge exists along which it is possible to walk, it can normally be assumed to provide a safe route for that part of the journey.

- Where on more lightly trafficked roads a verge exists that can be stepped onto when vehicles are passing, it will normally be assumed to provide safety for that part of the journey. No precise value can be set for ‘lightly trafficked’ but it will normally correspond to about 250 vehicles or less in the morning peak hour.

- The absence of a verge that can be walked on or stepped onto does not automatically mean that the route is unsafe. The behaviour of a prudent pedestrian will be assumed. Issues to be considered include:-

i) The volume, speed and type of traffic.

ii) The degree of visibility, i.e. sharp bends with a high hedgerow or bank.

iii) Accident record of the road at the time of day children would use it.

Where a road speed limit in excess of 40 miles per hour needs to be crossed, the crossing facilities will be considered.

c) Any disability the parents may have

2.3 The following factors will not be considered in their own right as dangerous for an accompanied child.

a) Lonely routes.

b) Moral danger.

c) Routes alongside or crossing over rivers, ditches, canals, ponds.

d) Unmanned level crossings.

e) No street lighting.

3. Assessment

3.1 Staffordshire County Council officers will use these factors to assess whether a route is reasonably safe to walk.

3.2 There will normally need to be a combination of factors for the route to be unavailable for an accompanied child.

3.3 A route will not normally be considered unsafe because a short length of it is difficult. It is reasonable to expect special care in particular places.

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