A FURNESS secondary school is bidding to get a bus stop directly outside its gates as it has safety concerns about the large number of pupils waiting for buses a few streets away from school.

Walney School is not happy that many pupils have to wait for buses in Amphitrite Street at the end of the school day. The island secondary said there are too many pupils for the size of the pavement in busy Amphitrite Street.

School leaders and Cumbria county councillors for the island have been working with Highways and Barrow Stagecoach officials to get a bus stop outside the school in Sandy Gap Lane and all agreed this was the best solution.

It is hoped that having the pick-up point next to the sports hall facility will be brought in as soon as possible.

At a meeting of Cumbria County Council's Barrow local committee last week it was suggested that there was a hold up with the plan at the Stagecoach headquarters end.

The Evening Mail contacted Stagecoach and the company confirmed that it intends to go ahead with the plan, but it just needs to have a parking restriction lifted to proceed.

Walney School headteacher John Richardson said Stagecoach had been very helpful and he is in talks with them.

Mr Richardson said: "We have looked at Amphitrite Street and we are not happy because of the number of students waiting for the bus. There are too many students for the size of the pavement.

"We are really keen to have the bus stop outside school as soon as possible so we can manage students on and off the buses. "

Mel Worth, the Walney North county councillor, who has worked with Frank Cassidy, the Walney South county councillor, on the bid to change the pick up point, said: "Mr Richardson expressed concerns many months ago. After the site meeting we all agreed the best thing was to have a the bus stop outside school on Sandy Gap Lane.

"As soon as this is solved the sooner the risk ends."

Michael Sanderson, commercial manager for Stagecoach in Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: "We are still looking at making the changes, but that part of the road has a parking restriction on it. We need the county council to change that restriction."

Mr Sanderson said Stagecoach will also have to give the Traffic Commissioner 56 days notice.

Earlier considerations included having a bus stop for the school service in Black Butts Lane, but it was decided that it could cause congestion and not be fair for residents.

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