MP behind walking bid

5:54pm Monday 8th January 2007

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MP's Lynda Waltho and Ian Pearson are backing a new £15m fund to encourage more kids to walk to school.

Stourbridge MP Lynda and Dudley South's Ian Pearson, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, want people in their constituencies to take advantage of Government cash for walking bus' schemes - to get children to walk to school safely accompanied by teaching staff and volunteers.

The Labour MPs said the money would provide grants for primary schools for up to three years to enable them to pay a teaching assistant to act as a walking bus' co-ordinator and seek support from businesses; promote the scheme to parents and fund high visibility clothing for kids to wear while walking to school.

Lynda said: "Not only are walking buses' beneficial for children - they are good for parents too. They provide a safe way to get children to school that takes away the worry of the school run for busy parents.

"There are up to a thousand walking buses' in operation around the country. I understand there are currently four in Dudley."

Ian added: "Walking to school gets cars off the road and it makes pupils more healthy.

"This time next year I want to see walking buses' snaking around the borough first thing every morning."