New path makes school trips safer

Children and parents have a safer walk or bike ride to a Norfolk village school thanks to a new �110,000 path.

Norfolk County Council and the transport charity Sustrans have joined forces to create the 800-metre path to Scarning Primary, near Dereham, which will be officially opened on Thursday.

The path, along the north side of the B1146 Dereham Road, connects with an existing cycle path near the junction with Chestnut Road, providing a link with National Cycle Network route 13.

The need for a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists was highlighted by a mother who regularly used the route taking her children to Scarning Primary School.

Adrian Gunson, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: 'By pooling resources, the county council and Sustrans have been able to provide a facility for walkers and cyclists that will be useful for residents - especially school children and their parents - for years to come.'

He added: 'Projects such as this make our roads safer and encourage more walking and cycling, which is good for the environment and reduces congestion outside schools. Altogether the county council will this year be spending �825,000 on 28 scheme through the safer and healthier routes to schools programme, as well as over �2m on 26 walking schemes and 18 cycling improvements, and �840,000 on 12 road crossings.'

Nigel Brigham, Sustrans' director in the East of England, said: 'This particular route will allow pupils at Scarning Primary more opportunities to get to school by bike or on foot, which often gives children their first taste of independence, and allows them to enjoy the many benefits of active and environmentally-friendly methods of travel in ways that will shape their attitude to travel in adulthood.'