DESPITE a last minute spanner in the works, Padgate and Woolston Walking Day will go ahead as planned this Saturday.
Only 17 days before the event, organisers received notification from Cheshire Police that it was the policy of the Association of Chief Police Officers not to support events on public highways due to the possible dangers involved.
In spite of this there will be a limited police presence since the Padgate Lane route will be closed off to traffic.
In true community spirit, head teachers of the two Woolston and two Fearnhead schools affected (Woolston CE Primary, St Peter's RC Primary, St Bridget's RC Primary and Cinnamon Brow Primary) quickly rallied round to ensure there would be no changes to the walk and that their walkers could be safely escorted to their starting points.
The Fearnhead schools will meet at Padgate High School and walk to their assembly places, in Station Road, via the back service road.
The two Woolston schools will bus into Millman's Yard as usual and after they return to Padgate Station bridge they will walk into the grounds of Padgate Community Centre to wait for their bus.
All processions will begin at 2.30pm and churches will turn around at the A50 Padgate Lane/Orford Road junction at around 3pm/3.20pm.
After returning to Padgate Lane, the Padgate group of churches will turn anti-clockwise at Padgate Station bridge and return along Padgate Lane to their starting points.
The walk should be completed by 4pm when roads will be reopened.
Peter Edwards, secretary of the Padgate and Woolston Walking Day Committee, said: "I am appreciative of the help and support we have received from officers of the council. It enables the major part of our walks, with more than 100 years of history, to take place in safety and comfort.
"The major part of our walks - the Padgate Lane route - will take place in safety as in previous years and the schools and churches located in Padgate Lane are in no way affected.
"As for the two Fearnhead and two Woolston schools, I am immensely gratified, impressed and overwhelmingly relieved by the organisational abilities of our head teachers to make arrangements so quickly, safely and effectively."
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