Community raises £10k for safer route to school

Parents had feared that a steep path leading down to the playground, at Bishop Middleham Primary School, would close amid safety concerns.

Its closure meant that children would be forced to make their way to school on a narrow path beside the village's Front Street.

This tapers to a point so narrow that parents with buggies and children on foot would have difficulty keeping everyone on the path.

Independent Sedegfield borough councillor for Bishop Middleham and Cornforth, Tony Brimm, said: "When we first heard that the school wanted to close the path we looked into the possibility of doing something with the pinch-point, but that wasn't possible, and we had to turn our attention back to the path."

Following an appeal from parents, the school decided to reconsider the closure and the community rallied round to raise the necessary funds. Work on new steps going down to the school is expected to start on October 19 and should be completed soon afterwards.

"It just goes to show what can be achieved when the community pulls together," said Councillor Brimm.

The new path will have handrails and follow a more gentle gradient down to the school playground. It will cost about £10,000.

Donations were received from the parish, borough and county councils, the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the diocese, along with money from village fundraising events.

"We have another couple of projects in mind, but if we have any left over we are thinking of giving it to the PTA or perhaps a local charity," said Coun Brimm.

The issue has caused some controversy in the community, with many parents annoyed that they were not consulted on the original closure decision.

A spokesman from the school, said: "We are aware of the fundraising carried out by the local community for the repair of the steps down to the school.

"This issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the school's finance committee."