A NEW footpath which joins Ashlands Primary and Sacred Heart Primary school, in Ilkley has been completed

The three-metre-wide footpath, which is also accessible to bicycles, cuts across the large adjoining field, which can be difficult to cross in poor weather, and will help link the catchment areas for each school on both sides of the A65.

The path will provide a quicker route between each school and promote active travel such as walking and cycling.

Bradford Council hopes that the path will help reduce the need to make the journey by car, which in turn will help reduce congestion in the area and pollution at school drop-off times.

The project was funded by the Department for Transports Active Travel Programme at a cost of £35,000.

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Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The field between both schools is well-known for being difficult to cross, particularly in wet weather, so most parents would avoid it and take the car instead.

"Unfortunately, this had the knock-on effect of causing congestion which in turn increases pollution and carbon emissions.

“The new footpath will give parents the option to leave the car at home and make the school run on foot or by bike. This will have long term health and wellbeing benefits for the children who attend these schools.

“The project is part of a series of long-term council initiatives to help promote active travel, particularly amongst young people, which improves health and wellbeing. Fewer car journeys, meanwhile, will also help reduce congestion and boost our decarbonisation and green travel agenda.”