PARENTS living on the Heatherlands Estate in Headley Down are celebrating this week after learning that their appeal for free school transport has been granted.

The decision to grant the appeal came after a great deal of support was given by local councillors, the East Hampshire District Council and the determination of the children's parents, who said that they "were not going to give up".

The decision was finally reached on Monday after county councillors and parents walked the designated "safe route to school", as laid out by Hampshire County Council, to the Holme C of E Primary School and Mill Chase Community School.

The procession, consisted of more than 20 parents and carers with young children walking to the junior school and more than 40 young people walking to Mill Chase, left the One Stop car park on the Heatherlands Estate at 7-30 am.

The party finally arrived at its final destination, Mill Chase, at 8-20 am, which meant walking through streets, many of which did not have pavements and little or no street lighting, passing the crossing at Long Cross Hill and Mill Lane, which in itself proved, what campaigners called "the most hazardous".

There were banners paraded with parents and children chanting "we want bus passes now" as they walked the route demonstrating that it was far from safe.

Parents and children had been campaigning about for nearly a year before their request was granted at a special panel meeting at the county council offices at The Castle, Winchester.

Helen Burt, a parent who has been campaigning for free school travel since the word go, said: "I'm thrilled to bits. People have waited for this decision for donkey's years and they have finally got what they wanted."

"The decision was unanimous among the people who took part in the walk on Monday."

Community transport officer for East Hants District Council, Gwil Williams, was full of praise for the hard work that has been done by the action group. He said: "It's obviously good news. The action group has been working for some time now and I think the outcome is a good example of people working together."

The appeal began in November last year after parents voiced their concerns in a public meeting at the Woodlands Hall about the safety of their children as they walked to school.

Following the public meeting, held in Headley Down, a small action group was formed, to decide how the issue could be taken forward.

The group agreed to seek the support of the district council's north east area community committee in an attempt to try to get Hampshire County Council to review its ruling on the three-mile provision laid out by the "notes of guidance - eligibility for full time travelling assistance to primary and secondary mainstream schools".

The provision stated that "secondary school children will only be provided with free travel if they attend the designated school for the area and the distance from the child's home measured by the nearest available walking route is more than three miles".

Mill Chase Community School, being the designated school, did not qualify under this ruling because it is between 2.8 and 2.9 miles away and Holme Primary School is even closer.

The decision stated that: "The free transport to schools will be given to children and young people from the Heatherlands Estate, who attend Mill Chase Community School and Holme C of E Primary School.

"Parents who wish to apply for the free transport need to complete the designated blue application forms which will shortly be distributed through schools."

Headley county and parish councillor John Filer, who also took part in Monday's walk to school for moral support, was also pleased with the news.

"The result of this is really good because is shows that the county council is flexible in issues such us this" he said.

"This decision effects a lot of children who live in Headley Down and a few children who live in Headley as well who will now receive their free bus passes.

"It has taken a lot of the time but we have got there in the end which is brilliant news."