CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a free school bus to and from Stockbridge's primary and secondary schools are celebrating this week after county councillors agreed the route used to walk and cycle to school is unsafe.

At a special hearing at the county headquarters in Winchester, the regulatory committee upheld the appeal by parents and councillors against the decision not to provide free school transport for children living in Houghton.

Houghton doesn't have its own school so pupils from the village attend Stockbridge Primary School and Test Valley secondary school.

Current legal requirements state children under eight must live more than two miles from the school while children over eight must live more than three miles to qualify for free school transport if the walking route has been declared safe.

This meant none of the secondary age children living in Houghton qualified for free transport but had the option of paying £297 a year as part of the council's privilege travel scheme offering spare seats on a contracted service. However, the availability of seats varies year on year and can be withdrawn at short notice if needed for children who qualify, which happened to four children in September.

On Monday morning members of the appeals panel walked the route to Test Valley School and Stock-bridge Primary School before hearing deputations from parent Lisa Aitken and Stockbridge and Wellow county councillor Michael Woodhall.

Concerns were raised about the safety of the route between Houghton and Stockbridge, which is subject to a 60mph speed limit, has several bends, no footpath and no street lighting.

The successful appeal means the route between the two villages is redesignated as unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists and free transport will now be provided for children attending both schools.

Cllr Woodhall said: "I am delighted that common sense has prevailed and that the panel decided the walking route from Houghton to Test Valley School and Stock-bridge Primary School was deemed to be unsafe for parents and children to walk to and from the school."