WATCH: Gavin Williamson walks 'dangerous' Codsall to Perton school route
Gavin Williamson has waded into a community protest highlighting a 'dangerous' route pupils have to use to get to school.
The South Staffordshire MP and Defence Secretary visited Codsall High School on Friday to visit campaigners and hear about the risks children living in Perton face daily walking along the busy Heath House Lane.
More than 2,500 people have signed a petition calling on Staffordshire County Council to provide free school transport for the youngsters, rather than force them to walk along a road they claim is cluttered with debris and unsafe.
Mr Williamson said the local authority needed to 'seriously' look a the issue.
Watch Gavin walk the route:
He said: "This is incredibly important because for so long children in Perton have had to pay either extortionate fees or walk to Codsall and quite frankly it is not a safe route for them to walk. What we want the county council to be looking at is, and ensure they have free home to school transport.
"We want them to look at this seriously - is this a route they would want their children to be walking on? The simple answer is no they wouldn't.
"It is not a route I would be wanting my children to be taking. The footpaths are incredibly narrow. But also as they try to cross the A41, a major A-road, there is no proper crossing point or no assisted crossing point there.
"No one wants to have their children walking along that route."
More on the Codsall High School transport row:
In the past the council has stated that it had reviewed the route, and declared it safe.
The council's cabinet member for learning and employability Philip White said previously: "The council has a duty to arrange transport for children who qualify for free school travel and, in line with national rules, this is done for children who live more than three miles from Codsall High School.
"Walking routes to school are reviewed by officers and this one is considered safe for use."
Campaigner and mother Tracey Atkinson said: "The decision that the walk from Perton to Codsall high is a ‘safe route’ is barmy. An imbecile could see that it is not. Councils cutting services as usual, probably happening all over the UK, but risking children’s safety is a bridge too far.
"Any accidents and the head of the council involved should be held personally responsible."
