A SAFER route to school project has hit the rails because governors have refused to support it.

Plans for the scheme at Byerley Park Primary School in Newton Aycliffe first took shape at a public meeting more than a year ago.

After much discussion and debate, plans were drawn up which included a park-and-walk scheme, pedestrian refuge, several footways, road signs and markings.

A working party, made up of residents, parents, school representatives and other interested parties, was formed and funding for the scheme was obtained.

The plans were approved by the working party, the inspectorate for road safety, police, Durham County Council, Sedgefield Borough Council and local members.

But ward councillors have since discovered that school governors have decided the route is not safe and advised parents not to use it.

Coun Vince Crosby, in a joint statement with Coun Brian Hall and Coun Keith Henderson, said the scheme cannot be taken any further.

He said: "Local councillors have spent many hours on this issue. We feel that this is a safe route.

"We also feel that in order to make this more successful, more work needs to be done. We have offered our support on this, but without the support of the governors then we can't progress any further."

Coun Crosby said he has the support of residents and feels that governors ought to have spoken up before now if they had any reservations.

He said: "We wanted to do even more and we've even got funding, but we can't move forward because it's got to have the approval of the governors.

"The initial meeting was 12 months ago and all the governors could have been there to voice their concerns, not wait until it's all done."