The walk to school on Monday morning - 20 November

2.38.26pm GMT Mon 20th Nov 2006

Phil Moncur and Cate Hunt with Lyn at the bottom of High Street Stoney Middleton

Phil Moncur (Director Diocesan Board of Education ) and Cate Hunt (Derbyshire Dales District Councillor) met me, Lyn Holyoake - governor, outside Stoney Middleton school at 8.30am and we set off with buggy and video camera to walk the route to Curbar school. We were joined by Revd Clive Thrower on the main road and Shirley with camera. It was a pleasant, calm and sunny autumn morning.!!!

We crossed the A623 - Baslow to Chapel en le Firth road (the fifth most dangerous road in Eng;land) three times and the very busy A625 Sheffield to Bakewell road once.

The Lollipop Lady

Our Lollipop lady safely sent us on our way across the first crossing of the A623 at the bottom of High Street in Stoney Middleton.

The very busy A625 - Sheffield to Bakewell Road

After crossing the A625 at the busy Calver Sough cross roads we had to wait again at the lights to cross the A623.

No crossing in Calver

Finally we crossed the A623 again opposite the Craft Centre where there are paths indicating a crossing but no marks on the road where the speed limit is 40mph

In addition on the way to Calver Sough we had to cross the Nook and then Meadow Close twice.

No crossing and a 40mph speed limit

The walk along the A623 round Calver involved crossing Donkey Lane, Main Street, Riverside Drive and finally after crossing the A623 we negotiated the busy junction at the bottom of Curbar Hill.

This multitude of crossings certainly delayed our walk which took us 40 minutes.

And where does the child walk

On route our walkers were certainly made aware of the hazards of the road, the narrow and even on a dry day wet pavements, the horrendous noise from heavy lorries and the major traffic problems.

Some alternative!

On the way back we walked via the underpass at Curbar and through Calver village. Later we crossed the road at the flooded section, walked alongside the playing field and then on the muddy "concessionary" rough path back into Stoney.

And there's another walk tomorrow at 3.15pm from Curbar School with County Councillor Nigel Allwood.