Parents’ fury as Lancing pupils forced to walk along ‘dangerous’ A27 from Shoreham

Sir Robert Woodard Academy (SRWA) in Upper Boundstone Lane, Lancing, extended its catchment area into Shoreham in 2017 to take admissions pressure off Shoreham Academy.

But dozens of Shoreham pupils have gone without subsidised travel as they live less than three miles away and within ‘statutory walking distance’ – if measured along the busy A27.

Shoreham Beach resident Serena Costello has set up a petition calling on WSCC to deem the narrow pathway on the dual carriageway – which the council lists as ‘very hostile’ for cyclists – unsafe.

“West Sussex County Council are not being accountable for the safety of our kids,” said Serena, whose son is about to enter Year 8.

Were the distance measured by the only alternative walking route, the much safer A259, the council would be obliged to provide travel to Shoreham.

Otherwise, parents like Serena have to pay £120 a term for a public bus that is often late, costly trains or rearrange working hours to drive the school run themselves.

The petition, which has more than 1,400 signatures, urges the council to provide subsidised travel until a safer walking route is in place.

A council spokesman said walking routes to schools are checked regularly as part of ‘ongoing wider commitment to keeping all footways safe’.

“There are no current plans to change the Home to School Transport Policy against which this route was previously assessed,” said the spokesman. “The A27 footway is maintained by Highways England, although this fact did not influence the assessment. Should we receive a copy of the petition once it closes, we will consider all responses before commenting in line with our current process.

“If pupils are eligible for free home to school transport, we will look at all available options at that time.

“In this instance that includes travel being undertaken by local train services.”

Readers can view and sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/west-sussex-county-council-safe-travel-to-school-for-our-children