Boxes of signatures calling for safe path delivered by pupils
Arundel to Ford pathway campaign reaches latest milestone
Pupils from Arundel schools have presented a petition to district and county councillors in support of a safe pathway from the town to Ford.
Children from Arundel Church of England (ACE) Primary and St Philip’s Catholic Primary visited Arundel Town Hall last Friday.
They arrived with colourful posters illustrating the need for a safe pathway for both cyclists and pedestrians.
The town council said the children showed great confidence in explaining the need for the pathway and handed over boxes containing more than 1,600 signatures to councillor Shaun Gunner, leader of Arun District Council, and councillor Joy Dennis, cabinet member for highways at West Sussex County Council.
Arundel mayor Tony Hunt said: “I congratulate the children on their excellent artwork and the clear way in which they explain the need for the safe pathway.
“I would like to thank headteachers Lucy Horne (St
Philip’s) and Andrew Simpson (ACE) for the way in which they have encouraged the children’s involvement; it is an enormous strength to the community to have two primary schools which are so engaged with local issues.
“I would also like to thank Andrew Griffith, Shaun Gunner and Joy Dennis for meeting with the children to address the need for such a vital scheme.
“Many of Arundel’s young people travel to secondary school via Ford Station. The choice lies between cycling and parents driving them to the station which – as the children have explained – are the kind of journeys that we all need to reduce in the interests of climate change.”
Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith was one of 56 community leaders who had signed the original letter of support for the project following the publication of the town council’s report – Arundel to Ford Station Cycle and Walking Route-Making Cycling and Walking Safer in February 2021.
He said: “It is ultimately for the benefit of Arundel children that we all want to see the Arundel to Ford route made safer.”
Mrs Dennis added: “I fully recognise the safety issues and accept that the pathway is one of the top priorities for the county council.”
And Mr Gunner also recognised the importance of the project.
Accepting the petition, he said: “As a cyclist who does not drive a car, I personally support asafepathwaybetweenArundel and Ford.”
To view the town council’s report on the pathway, visit www.arundeltowncouncil. gov.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2021/02/ArundelFord-Pathway-Final-Version. pdf
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