THE governors of two schools in Padiham are refusing to send pupils to swimming lessons following a staggering decision by Lancashire County Council education chiefs.

Children at Padiham County and St John the Baptist RC primary schools used to travel to lessons in vehicles equipped with seat belts.

But education chiefs have switched the contract to a firm which operates buses without seat belts.

The county's explanation is even more mind blowing than the original decision.

They hope the governing bodies "will review their decision in the light of the legal requirements and allow pupils to attend swimming lessons."

Thank God the governors at these two schools show more responsibility towards the safety and welfare of children than Lancashire County Council.

Why the switch?

In the light of County Hall's mealy mouthed response, we can only assume that it is all down to money.

It has come to a pretty pass if the safety of children and the peace of mind of their parents are seen as less important than the state of the balance sheet.

Whoever is responsible for this crass decision should be searching his or her conscience today.

The decision makers should not be surprised by the reaction of school governors in Padiham.

In recent years many children have died or been badly injured in buses and coaches not fitted with seat belts.

Indeed a pupil at one of the schools died in just such a tragedy.

The council should be thoroughly ashamed of a move which can only make a journey to the swimming pool less safe.

Swimming lessons themselves are designed to make life a little less dangerous for youngsters.

How stupid then, to put the children in more danger on the way to them.

From February the law will require seat belts to be fitted to coaches registered after October 1988.

What will the council do then?

Employ companies with rattle-trap coach fleets or carry on using ordinary buses which will not be covered by the legislation?

They owe it to thousands of children and parents across the county to have another long, hard look at their pitiful decision.

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