CAMPAIGNING parents and pupils calling for a proper cycle route to a town centre school are celebrating their success after the scheme was approved by Christchurch Borough Council.

Councillors on the community services committee approved the plans for the cycle route along Barrack Road to the Priory School, through Druitt Gardens using the Creedy footpath.

When the petition was submitted in April, Dorset County Council was already working with Christchurch council to submit a joint funding bid to the Sustrans Link to School project to create the shared link between Barrack Road and Wick Lane.

However, despite their success the bid for £135,000 is dependent on the council removing a bylaw currently preventing cycling on the Creedy. There is also a covenant on the protected footpath, which Judith Plumley, head of community and economy, said needs to be investigated further to find out if there are any beneficiaries of it.

The work will be funded from three sources – Dorset County Council, Christchurch Borough Council and Sustrans on behalf of the Department of Transport and will be incorporated into a programme of improvements due to take place in Druitt Gardens.

Cllr Gillian Geary, ward member for the town centre, said: “Obviously there does need to be more investigation into the covenant placed there to ensure that it is legal and correct.

And Cllr Peter Hall, also ward member for the town centre, said: “The new cycle route is fully funded and would ensure our young children could get safely to school.

“To me that is an important part of our policy as a council.”