ROAD safety experts at Worcestershire County Council are “nervous” about children cycling, according to one council chief.

John Hobbs, Worcestershire County Council’s director of environmental services, made the claim as councillors discussed the issue of schoolchildren cycling to school.

Councillors were told that no children had been killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads in the last six months although eight had been hurt, including four pedestrians, one cyclist and three passengers.

Councillor Ken Pollock said he had heard of a headmaster outside of the county writing to parents to say schoolchildren should not cycle to school because the school’s driveway was not safe.

He suggested the council write to Worcestershire’s headteachers to say that approach was not acceptable.

Coun Pollock said: “I think we should write to the heads and say we will not regard this as acceptable.

“They are preparing their school travel plans.

He said: “The school is not responsible for the mode of transport for pupils on the public highway.”

However, other councillors said that they did not agree. Coun Kit Taylor said: “I would be very nervous of sending a letter like that to any school.”

Mr Hobbs said: “Our road safety people are nervous about cycling.

“There is a significant increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured.

“A total of 1,089 people were killed on bicycles last year (nationally).

“People read a statistic like that and if you are a headmaster of a school you might get spooked by that.

“Often it’s people’s perception of road safety that motivates them.”

Coun Bev Neilson said she thought it was an area that involved cultural leadership.

She said: “Pedestrians and cyclists should have priority and drivers should be thinking about them all the time.”

She said that cycling was part of the council’s transport strategy.

The concerns were raised during a meeting of the environment and economy panel.

  • Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend the meeting.