East Sussex Highways have stepped in and sponsored 500 high-visibility tabards (sleeveless jackets) which will be used to boost and renew the Council’s stocks for children and adults participating in approved “Walking Bus” schemes.
A Walking Bus is a supervised group of children escorted to school by trained volunteers along a set route, to a pre-arranged timetable. Currently around 300 children from 23 schools are involved in such schemes across East Sussex.
The County Council helps schools identify a safe route, provides insurance, trains volunteers and works with them to make all other arrangements to support children’s safety. Many schools offer incentives, such as stickers, vouchers and certificates, to keep children’s and adults’ motivation and participation numbers high.
Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and Environment said “This sponsorship arrangement in partnership with May Gurney will help our children, and indeed the whole community, share in the road safety benefits resulting from fewer cars and less congestion. The schools and children will in turn reap the benefits of being fitter, healthier and ready to learn.”
John Jackson, Operations Director for May Gurney Highway Services added "Along with our supply chain partner Parker Merchandising, we are delighted to be associated with such a scheme. We have over 15, 000 workers working on the road network nationwide and understand the dangers of working on and using the highway. We are committed to working towards the long term safety for all road users and this sort of initiative is an important step in protecting both the environment and the safety of all involved."
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Notes to editors
East Sussex Highways
East Sussex Highways looks after the roads and footways in East Sussex. The people delivering the service work in partnership for both the County Council and May Gurney.
May Gurney
May Gurney is a dynamic, integrated support and construction services company providing maintenance and enhancement services to the highways, rail, utilities and general infrastructure markets, primarily with public sector and regulated sector customers, across the UK. The company focuses on long term relationships, has 3,200 employees and delivers solutions through two primary business segments – Maintenance Services and Engineering & Project Services.
The Maintenance Services segment is focused on the core markets of highways and utilities. Activities include highways maintenance under long term partnerships with Local Authorities and network improvement and maintenance services provided to major UK utilities networks under long-term framework contracts.
The Engineering & Project Services segment serves public and regulated sector clients across a broad range of industries. Core services include the enhancement of road and rail infrastructure, waste management, flood protection, ground remediation, foundations, geotechnical engineering and building.
Walking Buses
The following East Sussex schools have active Walking Buses:
- Bonners CE Primary, Maresfield
- Brede Primary
- Burwash CE Primary
- Cradle Hill Community Primary, Seaford
- Forest Row CE Primary
- Groombridge St Thomas’ CE Primary
- Guestling-Bradshaw Primary
- Harlands Primary, Uckfield (3 routes)
- Hawkes Farm Primary, Hailsham (2 routes)
- Herne Junior, Crowborough
- Holy Cross CE Primary, Uckfield
- Little Common School, Bexhill (not run by East Sussex County ouncil)
- Mayfield CE Primary
- Meeching Valley Primary, Newhaven
- Newick CE Primary
- Ringmer Primary
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary, Hastings (run by Hastings Borough Council)
- Salehurst Primary, nr Robertsbridge
- Sedlescombe CE Primary
- St Mary Magdalene’s Catholic Primary
- Ticehurst & Flimwell CE Primary
- Tollgate Community Junior, Eastbourne
- Whitehill Infant School, Crowborough
Reference:
1223
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