Hopes to keep free school travel

Durham County Council will look again at last year's decision to withdraw the concession from 150 pupils of Blackfyne Community School, Consett, who live in Leadgate.

The youngsters would not normally qualify for free travel but the concession was granted 18 years ago because walking routes to Blackfyne were deemed unsafe.

Despite an increase in traffic over the years and the building of an industrial estate near the school, the council agreed to review the decision at the request of local Independent councillor Watts Stelling, who succeeded the council's former Labour leader Don Robson at the last election.

The council has now adopted formal criteria for assessing routes - others around the county will be looked at - based on national guidelines.

It will use these to look at the Blackfyne routes again.

But it has rejected calls by Councillor Stelling to include "subjective'' criteria, such as topography, personal safety and the weather.

He said the area's height above sea level, the exposed nature of routes and harsh weather are key things to be considered.

The children were to have had the concession withdrawn last September but, because the review is to be carried out again, will now enjoy it until the academic year ends.

Coun Stelling said: "They have said if a local member wants a site visit that will be done - so hopefully subjective criteria will still be considered by members even if officers are looking at objective criteria.

"It is unsafe for kids to walk these routes and it is ludicrous to end the concession for the small amount of money that will be saved.

"From October to February or March the weather is wicked. Even if there is no snow you have the bleakness on one of the routes in particular. There is a new industrial estate and there are five roads to cross.

"The school is getting its attendance rate up. If free transport is withdrawn, kids will either get a lift or, if they can't, won't go to school."