Ramsden Heath: Parents bid to set up ‘walking bus’ scheme

Downham CE Primary School, in Church Road, is introducing a Safer Journeys to School scheme and needs parental volunteers to set up a 'walking bus'.

The walking bus idea involves volunteer parents helping to lead pupils to the school from a drop off point five minutes away from the grounds.

The idea is seen as a way of cutting congestion around the school and encouraging pupils to take some informal exercise by walking some of the distance to the school

Head teacher Judi Byrne said: "We have quite a lot of problems with parking and congestion around the school at the beginning and at the end of the day.

"The level of traffic not only means cars block the road for other cars, but also means it is often very difficult for children to see whether it is safe to cross the road.

"This will hopefully relieve the congestion and help get the children fit - it will also be a bit more sociable for them."

The school hopes it can get the walking bus up and running as soon as possible, but needs people to come forward to act as 'drivers', who will lead the children, and 'conductors' who will follow behind checking everything is safe.

The Safer Journeys to School scheme has been developed in partnership with Essex County Council and Chelmsford Borough Council and is designed to make travelling to school more enjoyable.

As part of the scheme it is also hoped to set up a mini bus service to pick up pupils from outlying areas.

Mrs Byrne said: "We have pupils coming in from the Brock Hill area of Wickford, Ramsden Bellhouse and Downham.

"We are hoping to get the mini bus service up and running by the beginning of the next half term. At the moment we are waiting to get enough people interested to make it financially viable.

"Hopefully it will help parents avoid having to drive in and again it should help cut congestion."

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