Cycleway may spell end of a school bus

stephen.exley@cambridge-news.co.uk

VILLAGERS are set to benefit from a new cycleway and footpath - but they could lose out on their free school bus as a result.

The improved off-road path would run between Milton and Impington to the south of Butt Lane and Milton Road, offering a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists as part of the £7.2 million Cycle Cambridge package of improvements.

But Milton parents with students who attend Impington Village College fear losing the free bus provided by Cambridgeshire County Council if the route is deemed a safe route.

Girish Menon, of Cherry Close, whose son Om, 11, attends the school, said: "I think this is an outrage. We need to ensure Milton students have a safe journey to school.

"The effect this scheme will have on the council's green policies are laughable. I can see many Milton parents using their cars to drop off their children at school.

"Instead of three or four buses now operating, we may have 100 cars ferrying students to Impington during rush hour."

Jane Coston, a Milton parish councillor, has been handing out leaflets to highlight that the council's consultation process ends on Thursday. Speaking in a personal capacity, she said: "More than 200 children travel by bus and I am concerned for them. It could be taken away and that would be awful."

Students who live less than three miles from school qualify for free travel if the route is not deemed safe for a child accompanied by an adult.

The council plans are for a 2.5-metre wide walkway/cycleway and it believes it would attract students, workers and leisure users.

Mike Davies, programme manager for Cycle Cambridge, said: "If approval to build the route is given by councillors, once it is built it will be assessed for its suitability for children."

He said the process was "lengthy but democratic."

A consultation event about the plans takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, 09 September) at 3pm-6pm at Milton's community centre in Coles Road.

Alternatively, visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/projects/south by Thursday.

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