Norfolk primary schoolkids push for bike path

Schoolchildren in Norwich are campaigning for a cycle route to join villages lying south of the city, one of which has a primary school, another a high school, according to the Norwich Evening News.

The proposed path would also connect the villages of Little Melton and Hethersett with one of the city’s key employment hubs where the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the University of East Anglia and the city’s research park are located.

The campaign launched by children from Little Melton Primary School, and has gained support from parents, teachers and councillors, as well as the local MP.

John Heaser, chairman of Little Melton Parish Council, told the newspaper: "There's more pressure on children to cycle to school and we're always being told to get on our bikes but quite frankly the roads are very dangerous, adding, "it's certainly not suitable for 10- and 11-year-olds to cycle to school and a lot of people don't get on their bikes because they are absolutely terrified."

The initiative was started by Little Melton Primary School council, comprising children aged four to eleven, who in February told the parish council that they would like a safer route to cycle to Hethersett when they graduate to the high school there.

The parish council took their views on board and surveyed local householders to get opinions on preferred routes, one of which is a path alongside Hethersett Lane that would cross the A47 using an existing bridge.

The campaign has attracted the backing of local MP Richard Bacon, who will next month accompany schoolchildren as they cycle to Hetherscott, as well as seeing for himself the difficulties cyclists currently face in crossing the A47.