CHILDREN'S lives will be at risk because of the absence of a school crossing and poor pavements.

Dennis Warwick, chairman of Burley-in-Wharfedale Community Council, said the lack of proper pavement and no school crossing on Station Road meant children making their way to the newly organised school system in the autumn will not be safe.

"Near the station there is only one footpath and there are dangerous crossings," he said.

There should be a manned school crossing on Station Road but this hasn't been available for six months because Bradford Council haven't been able to find someone to patrol it.

Mr Warwick claims children coming from the direction of Burley station will have to cross the dangerous road twice to reach Burley Oaks Primary School on Langford Lane.

He is also concerned about speeding drivers on Station Road.

"People have taken speed surveys and have found the average speed is 39 miles per hour. Fifteen per cent are going over 45 miles an hour and that concerns parents of children who have to cross without adequate pavements on either side."

An Bradford Council education spokeswoman said: "We have been advertising for a school crossing patrol for this area since it became vacant about six months ago but unfortunately we have not yet had any applicants.

"What we need is someone in the community to come forward and do the job."

She added that it was difficult to find people to do school patrols because of the nature of the work, which only involved patrolling in the mornings, lunch and tea times.

But she said: "We usually get someone who is very community-minded."

The community council will be discussing the problem at their next meeting on June 15 at 7.30pm at Burley Middle School, on Langford Lane.

L Following the shake up of primary schools across the region, Burley C of E First School will close this summer and the children will be absorbed into Burley Oaks Primary School on Langford Lane and Burley and Woodhead Primary School on Sandholme Drive.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.