Mum’s plea to officials as child has to walk on ‘death trap’ to school

Mum’s plea to officials as child has to walk on ‘death trap’ to school

11 November 2015

A CROSSGAR mum is appealing to education officials to help get her daughter safely to school.

Marie Hodgen was delighted when her daughter Rebecca gained a place in primary one at Cedar Integrated Primary School in September.

However, her joy was short-lived after she realised the Education Authority would not help to get Rebecca to school after deciding she lived too close to the gates.

Education authorities will fund transport for children under eight who live more than two miles from their nearest suitable school, but officials who measured the route from five year-old Rebecca’s Killyleagh Road home to Cedar Integrated Primary have calculated that she lives just 1.87 miles away.

Marie is convinced this is wrong and says she believes she lives exactly two miles away and fears officials have deliberately used a side gate for their measurements to avoid having to pay.

As a result, she says they are expecting her to walk with Rebecca and her young brother along a road with fast traffic and sections without paths.

She said she is particularly concerned about darker winter days when she is afraid they might not be easily visible along the grass banks.

Marie said is so terrified about being knocked down on the “death trap” road with her children that she is paying a private taxi company £40 per week for a safe return journey.

She warns this is a bill she cannot sustain in the long-term.

“Rebecca is in primary one now so she has to go to school and we are having to pay £40 per week to make sure this happens,” she said.

“My husband goes to work in our car and I do not drive so the only other option is to walk, which is far too dangerous because of the traffic among the road which is a death trap.

“We have even offered to pay half the fare as £20 is much more affordable than £40, but the Education Authority has refused.

“We live two miles away from the main school gates but the officials who measured the route have used a side entrance, which puts us at just under two miles.

“I am so worried about the danger. There is no bus at the right time so unless the Education Authority looks at the distance again we have no choice.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she had made representations to the Education Authority regarding school transport arrangements for Ms Hodgen’s child.

“I hope that a satisfactory resolution can be found,” she said.

“Safety for children travelling to and from school is paramount and I am aware of Ms Hodgen’s concerns, and I will continue to support her request with the Authority for more suitable arrangements to be put in place.”

The Education Authority did not respond when contacted by the Recorder.