Herefordshire Council is expanding its network of child cycle trainers and will, for the first time, be offering the service to high schools.
The council has recently organised a four-day course for eight people who are now qualified to deliver child cycle training in Herefordshire primary and high schools. Funding for the course came from central government funding.
Five of the people who have completed the course are community support officers with West Mercia Police.
Superintendent Kevin Purcell of West Mercia Police said: “This is an excellent initiative in two ways. Firstly it should help to keep youngsters safe, and secondly it introduces the children to our local policing teams in a non-confrontational way. It supports our ‘I know my Local Policing Team Initiative’ and builds lasting relationships with our youngsters.”
Councillor Brian Wilcox, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We are really keen as a council to encourage more children to cycle to school safely and need a good network of trainers to achieve this so I am delighted we have got nine new people on board now.
“Cycling to school is not only good for a child’s health and well being but also helps to reduce the amount of cars on the road during the school run.
“Any primary schools interested in arranging child cycle training should contact David Holmes on 01432 383396 and anyone from a high school should contact Linda Sinker on 01432 260262,” he added.