AN angry parent has blasted education chiefs for declaring a busy lane as a safe walking route to school for children. Tom Heath is angry because councillors made their decision after taking a mini-bus along the lane mid morning. He says they should be forced to walk the full length of the lane at the same time as the children go to and from school.

As reported in the BEN, councillors on the education assistance panel checked out the route in a row about where Christian children from Westhoughton go to school.

They decided Platt Lane was a safe route to Hesketh Fletcher school in Atherton - which means Westhoughton pupils do not qualify for bus passes because it is under two miles.

Mr Heath of Lower Drake Fold, Daisy Hill, said: "This is a route they expect children to walk, in its entirety, twice a day, rain, hail or shine: daylight or pitch dark. A route so safe that they need a coach to travel it once in daylight. "What did this inspection cost us? How many bus passes could have been issued for the cost of this trip?

"Is it not time that Bolton recognised their complacency during the 80s and 90s, letting builders stuff Westhoughton with houses and providing no infrastructure?

"There continues to be insufficient secondary school places, but now we have to pay bus fares."

Mr Heath argues that the rules discriminate against Christian families in the town. The council do not give bus passes for pupils attending Canon Slade, Bradshaw or St James's in Farnworth because Hesketh Fletcher CE in neighbouring Wigan is less than two miles away.

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