ONE of the country's largest walking school bus schemes could have to be scrapped because parents are failing to support it.

A lack of volunteers to supervise the bus, as well as inconsiderate dog owners who allow their pets to foul the route and parents clogging up the streets with cars are all threatening the future of the village scheme.

Norton-juxta-Kempsey CofE First School's scheme was officially launched as the county's largest walking bus in September 2004.

Part of Worcestershire County Council's Safer Routes to School project, it allows children to walk to school together under supervision.

But Norton-juxta-Kempsey Parish Council heard recently villagers had complained that nothing was being done about the number of cars congregating outside the school at the start of the day and home time.

The council's chairman Mike Reeves said parking restrictions would soon be in place that would prevent people from parking outside the school during certain times.

Parish councillor Kate Lovegrove, who is also a school governor, said the school's walking bus encouraged parents to from page one leave their cars at home and was still one of the largest in the country but admitted it was suffering from a lack of volunteers.

She said: "We are extremely grateful for the parents who do it but it is dependent on volunteers walking with the children. If you put a child on the walking bus for five days a week, you should walk with them one day but we are getting more and more mums working full time and seeing the bus as a way for them to get to work by 9am."

"Until the community starts to co-operate, there's a real danger that the walking bus will just stop."

She also blasted the "poo perpetrators" who left dollops of dog mess along the pavements despite the presence of designated waste bins.

Villagers were urged to report anyone they saw committing the offence to a dog warden immediately so they could come out and clear up the mess and issue fines where possible.

Norton-juxta-Kempsey CofE First School's walking bus had 32 pupils and 14 adults when it was launched.

However neither the school nor Worcestershire County Council has been able to provide up-to-date figures for the scheme.

A council spokesman said it was committed to helping schools reduce parents' dependance on the car.

He said: "If there are issues we will work with the school to look for other solutions if necessary. The scheme is only as good as the people who are prepared to operate it. If parents are committed to it then volunteers will be coming forward."

The acting headteacher of the school was unavailable to comment.

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