A WALKING Bus for children to join is a great idea. Children are accompanied by trained adults and they walk in a group cutting down car journeys and getting more exercise, it would seem to be a great idea.

But at Bridstow School a Walking Bus is just too dangerous. There is a 60 mph speed limit on both the A49 that runs outside the school, and also along the road that passes the school entrance.

However last Thursday morning in 'National Walk to School Week' Bridstow pupils and their parents decided to stage their own walk to school as a way of highlighting the dangers they face

They were joined at the start of the walk by their local Councillor Jenny Hyde, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, and other concerned residents.

Thousands of children up and down the country have joined in the push to make walking to school part of their daily routine. Many children and parents of Bridstow School would enjoy the walk if they could, it is a beautiful route but the village roads surrounding the school are typical of many countryside roads. There is poor visibility and no footpath and no places to step off the road if traffic is approaching. Local parents feel it is critical to reduce the speed limit on both roads in order to make a walking route to Bridstow School safe.

Concerned parents, Alison Stemp and Nicola La Grue, told the Gazette: "We have major safety issues on the smaller roads around the school". And it's not just when they are getting to school that the children of Bridstow School have to use the roads. They often have to walk the lane down to the church for school services.

Around twenty children as well as the adult volunteers and headmaster, Paul Socket, all wearing bright fluorescent jackets, turned out to walk the mile or so to Bridstow school on Thursday, May 20th. As the group approach the school the parked cars added to the mounting safety issues. In the words of several parents: "It simply isn't safe." Their aim is to improve the safety of roads around the school in order that the children can have the opportunity to walk to school.

New MP Jesse Norman has also lent his support to the campaign: "I feel very strongly both about the need for greater safety on the A49, and specifically about the safety of pupils at Bridstow School."