SCHOOL CHILDREN will no longer have to cross at a dangerous junction after the success of a campaign by a district councillor. The pupils will now be given free transport instead of having to cross the A10 trunk road at the junction at Frog End. Since the

SCHOOL CHILDREN will no longer have to cross at a dangerous junction after the success of a campaign by a district councillor.

The pupils will now be given free transport instead of having to cross the A10 trunk road at the junction at Frog End.

Since the Melbourn bypass was built pupils in Shepreth who attend Melbourn Village College have been directed to cross at the dangerous junction as it was part of Cambridgeshire County Council's designated safe routes to school programme.

But last summer the County Council's highways division identified the junction as one of the top 10 most dangerous accident spots in South Cambridgeshire.

When it reported these findings to South Cambridgeshire traffic management committee in September 2005, the junction was considered too costly for remedial work to improve safety.

This was brought to the attention of the county council's home-to-school transport appeals committee and as a result pupils will now be offered temporary free transport until a safe route has been put in place.

South Cambridgeshire district councillor Susan van de Ven has been concerned about pupil's safety and has been fighting to get children a safe route to school for the past year.

Last year, Cllr van de Ven attempted to get funding from the district and county councils for a cycle path from Shepreth to Meldreth, linking up safely to Melbourn Village College. The proposal was turned down as money was not available.

She encouraged parents and residents to become involved and when the issue was raised for the third time it was decided to introduce free transport, which would usually costs pupils £93-a-term.

Cllr van de Ven said: "They are entitled to it."

Commenting on the success of the appeal, she said: "It gives us some faith in the system. It's something the village had just about given up on.

"It happened because everyone got together and went through the appeals process.

"The temporary provision will come into effect as soon as everything has been organised and it will be followed by a cost analysis for the A10 work," she said.