Councillor Jayne Greenaway has questioned the priorities of the Labour Cabinet, where currently children in parts of the Borough have a potentially dangerous walking route.
Within the Council meeting In March Cllr Greenaway questioned Labour Cabinet member Gilly Reynolds - only to revceive a hugely disappointing reply of wait and see on catchment areas.
The area of concern raised relates to the Cabinet report where it was agreed that Lawley has a shared attendance area with Ercall Wood and Telford Langley. Ercall Wood is accessed via The Dawley Road from Lawley to Wellington.
There are increasing concerns regarding the state of this route. The Dawley Road has a 50mph speed limit, and has had a fatality on the fastest stretch, whilst being a concern of the Safer Roads Partnership. The footpath has narrowed in recent years due to encroachment from the embankment, it cannot accommodate a pushchair or mobility vehicle.
Cllr Greenaway has stated "I have grave concerns for the safety of students who will walk this route and would therefore ask the Cabinet Member, as a required action for the Telford and Wrekin Transport & Commissioning Department, to evaluate the route at the earliest opportunity, and to fund the £17k necessary to improve the footpath to the required standard of a Safe Route to School.
it is disappointing that the Labour Cabinet are not taking this matter seriously, and haven't prioritised the safety of children walking this dangerous route. A wait and see approach is simply not good enough, it's a small price to pay for the protection of children".