Two local schools have benefited from the donation of bicycles, given as a donation to the community following a pedestrian/cycle path’s completion.
The 4.5km-long Bognor Regis to Littlehampton shared path opened in August, providing a direct, sustainable transport link between the two towns.
While work was ongoing, the county council’s contractor, Jackson Civil Engineering, worked with children at Bishop Tufnell Church of England Primary School in Bognor Regis, highlighting the importance of construction site safety and health and safety in general.
As a ‘finale’ to this work, Jackson presented five bicycles to the school on Friday so they can be used for county council-run Bikeability courses – formerly called Cycling Proficiency.
Pencil case bags and vouchers were also given to the winners of a poster design competition, promoting road safety for vulnerable road users.
Littlehampton Academy students have also benefited from Jackson’s donation, with five bicycles given to the most deserving students, as nominated by academy staff.
Richard Killean, Jackson’s Contracts Manager, said: “It is with great pleasure that we donate these bikes to promote the use of the new cycleway and encourage the younger travelling public to choose a healthier form of transportation. We recognise the disruption construction work can cause, so we’d like to thank the local community for their patience whilst this project was being built.”
Roger Elkins, county council Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “We’re grateful for this generous gesture by Jackson. It’s great to see a contractor getting involved in the community and underlining some of our own key messages, with safety at the forefront and a welcome boost for our successful Bikeability scheme, too.”
Pictures: Presentation at Bishop Tufnell School: back row, West Sussex Highways representative Alex Sharkey, Jackson Regional Engineer Callum Corbin, Jackson Site Agent Rod Heath, Bishop Tufnell Church of England Primary School head teacher Nick Sharp, West Sussex Highways representative Elaine Martin, and Jackson Contracts Manager Richard Killean and, front, pupils with the new bicycles donated to the school. The bicycles will be used by the school for the Bikeability scheme.
Presentation at Littlehampton Academy: back row, Academy chaplain Paul Sanderson, Jackson Regional Engineer Callum Corbin, Jackson Contracts Manager Richard Killean, Jackson Site Agent Rod Heath, Academy Vice-Principal Bianca Greenhaigh, West Sussex Highways representatives Alex Sharkey and Elaine Martin, and front, three of the five students who have received the bicycles