THERE are new hopes that the battle to win school transport for children in the village of Wombleton could be won with news of a likely re-assessment of the campaign by county council officials.

Earlier this year, worried parents and parish councillors renewed their long-running fight to get transport for the village's 21 children, who currently have to walk along narrow country lanes to get to Ryedale School.

Their pleas were turned down by County Hall because Wombleton just falls short of the three-mile zone.

But the community, backed by the parish council, will not give up its fight.

Coun Patrick Lane, the parish council chairman, said that, in addition to the matter going before the county council's scrutiny committee in the next few months, he had received a letter from county education director Cynthia Welbourn.

"We were concerned that a police report - which supported the case for the children getting school transport provided because of the dangers on the lanes out of Wombleton and crossing the busy A170 Thirsk to Scarborough road - was not taken into consideration at the appeal hearing," he said.

Now, Miss Welbourn has said that while there was no requirement for it to be presented as part of the evidence: "It would have been good practice if it had been available."

She added: "I would agree that if the report was available, it should have been presented."

Now the Road Safety Officers' Association has issued a report on hazards and an assessment of risks of walking routes to schools which calls for new rules to be introduced as part of a review of strategy on road safety.

"This gives the parish council and parents a great deal of new heart," said Mr Lane.

"We are very worried that the children are in danger because they have to walk along lanes which in some places have no footpaths and steep grass verges, or who have to depend on their parents taking them to school by car which is often not convenient if both parents are working."

County council officers have now asked for the Wombleton situation to be re-assessed using the new rules.

"If that assessment finds that the lanes are unsafe for the children, we have been told that free transport will be provided even before the county council has had the opportunity to officially consider the safety review, which is splendid news," said Mr Lane.

"I think there is a glimmer of hope, and I do thank the county council for their positive help. It has been very encouraging."

He said the parish council also wants an assessment carried out under the new Crime and Disorder Act and Ryedale Community Safety Strategy Partnership was also taking up the issue because of the village's concerns for the safety of its young people.

The major re-think is the second recent morale boost for Wombleton - it was recently named as runner-up in the Village of the Year competition run by Yorkshire Rural Community Council and Calor Gas.

"Wombleton's 300 residents have a big heart. We are a very active community," said Mr Lane.

Despite being a relatively small village, it boasts many organisations catering for all age groups from a pre-school playgroup and mums and toddlers group, to an over-60's club, plus regular whist and domino drives, sports club, and young people are coached by senior cricketers and footballers in the village.

In addition, a special room has been allocated at the village pub, The Plough, where young people can play pool.

"We have a splendid community spirit and we are delighted it has been recognised in such an important contest (as the Village of the Year)," said Mr Lane.

Updated: 08:55 Wednesday, July 24, 2002