PARENTS who set up a “walking bus” in Warrington to improve safety for schoolchildren are celebrating its first anniversary tomorrow (Friday).
Mums who stop the traffic legally for youngsters at Appleton Thorn Primary School, Arley Road, are being nominated for a national road safety award.
Eight parents have been trained as voluntary crossing patrol officers
for the scheme which aims to reduce traffic in congested Arley Road.
Children are dropped off at the nearby Thorn Inn in Grappenhall Lane -and then supervised as they walk to the school and cross roads.
Deputy head Craig Burgess said: “Eight parents volunteered to become crossing patrol officers after being told the school did not qualify for a paid service or the instalment of a pelican crossing.
“They walk alongside the walking bus, stopping traffic at designated points and therefore allowing youngsters to cross safely.”
The innovative scheme has now been running for a year and has moved on from one day a week to three days a week.
Warrington Borough Council Road Safety team have nominated the “walking bus” for the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards to be held in London in December.
It is believed the scheme is the first of its kind in the North West. Organisers hope it can be copied by other schools in Warrington and throughout the North West now that the sustainability of the scheme has been proven.
