60 Local Families Win Appeal to Save their School Bus

Families of the Girton and Oakington Safely Home Campaign (GOSH) are delighted and relieved that today the Cambridgeshire County Council’s proposal to withdraw the free school bus from Girton and Oakington to Impington Village College, has been overturned by an Appeal’s panel. The panel verdict was announced following an Appeal by the affected families held this morning; Wednesday 21 May.

The appeal was held by a Cambridgeshire County Council committee panel in response to concerns expressed by the 60 families affected by the council’s plans to cut the (free) bus service from both Girton and Oakington to the Impington Village College (IVC) from September 2008. The appeals panel consisted of Cllrs N. Harrison, J West and D Normington.

A series of events were held to successfully demonstrate the issue with a walk to school campaign in April and a drive to school event in May.

In March this year, 60 families, deemed to live less than 3 miles from IVC, received a letter from Cambridgeshire County Council informing them that the currently free school bus service was to be withdrawn in September 2008. Families living in the same villages but over 3 miles from IVC remained eligible for the free service, affectively dividing two close communities. All children from both villages have been granted free transport in the past, on the basis that the route is unsafe.

In total nearly 90 children from both Girton and Oakington would have been affected. Children aged from 11 years would have been expected to either walk or bicycle the approx 6 miles every day to IVC in all weathers throughout the year. The County Council argued that the proposed route was a “safe route”, but following a thorough review of the County Council’s route assessment, the affected families clearly demonstrated to the panel that the proposed route was in fact “unsafe”.

A campaign group, named GOSH, representing affected families was formed and actively campaigned on behalf of the affected families for the County Council to reverse their decision on the basis that the route is not safe and if used by children will represent a significant safety hazard.

Over the last 2 months GOSH gained wide ranging support for the campaign including Andrew Lansley MP, David Jenkins, Matt Bradney, and John Reynolds of Cambs County Council, Simon Edwards of South Cambs DC and both Girton and Oakington/Westwick Parish Councils.

The GOSH committee and affected families would like to thank the Appeal’s Panel for considering our case and overturning the decision to remove the free bus service.

The Appeal’s panel Chairman, Cllr Nicola Harrison read out a statement which concluded that the junction at Park Road/Cambridge Road and the new dual path along Park Road to Histon due to its dimensions and close to a busy 60mph road were unsafe and therefore in terms of the policy not fit to be deemed a safe route to school even if accompanied by an adult.

To see the evidence, log on to http://helpgosh.freehostia.com/

“We are delighted that the Appeal’s Panel have carefully considered the issues we have raised and presided in our favour. In the long run it reduces the risk of serious injury to a child. We feel extremely relieved that the decision to withdraw the bus route has been rescinded. ” said Howard Griffiths spokesperson for GOSH

“I am so delighted that we have won this case. I was really worried and frightened that I might have had to walk along that horrid road every day. I am so relieved” said one of the potential affected children.

“This news means that children will not have to walk or cycle to IVC out of necessity. It is also great news for commuters as the expected extra 60 cars won’t be making the congested roads around Histon and Impington any worse. It will also reduce the risk of further accidents and is so much better for the environment” added Adam Broadway, a member of GOSH from Oakington

[ 0 comments pending approval ]