New cycle path for school kids

PUPILS at Worlingham Primary School will have no more excuses for bringing muddy footprints into the classroom after a brand new pedestrian and cycle path was opened on Tuesday.

The route from Orchard Rise through a field and into the rear entrance of the school has long been used by children walking to the school, however the path was far too narrow and became something of a quagmire in the winter months.

Now a new path has been built on the route, which was officially opened by Worlingham parish councillors and Worlingham Primary School headteacher Liz Percival.

She said that the children do not bring as much mud into school now that a proper path has been installed. “So many parents bring their children to school across this field,” she said. “We've been encouraging children to walk or cycle to school for years. I'm really pleased with it and the children are really pleased with it- they've been following its progress!

“It's a really useful connection, I'm just thankful that the parish council and local people worked with us on this one.”

The new path, which was one of the original proposals of the Beccles Cycle Strategy in 1996, has been funded by the Beccles Cycle Strategy, who received a grant from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited), and by Worlingham Parish Council, who received a grant from Awards For All.

It links the school to Worlingham Middle, which the children sometimes walk to in order to use the sports facilities there, and it is also useful to residents at Samford Court, which is across the field from the primary school. On top of that it is another useful link in the Beccles and Worlingham cycle network.

The project was instigated by the Beccles Cycle Strategy, Worlingham Parish Council and Worlingham Primary School, and was supported by Waveney District Council, who dedicated the land for the project. Suffolk County Council designed and constructed the path and will take on responsibility for its maintenance.