ALL children have the right to feel safe in their school environment.

Safety cannot be guaranteed when there is a public right of way through a school playground.

The prejudices of a lot of local people appear to be jeopardising this safety.

If we forget for a moment that this is a private school: would this path exist if it were a state run school? I think not.

Apparently, Mr Crowe thinks we all live "encapsulated lives" and do not contribute to the local economy as we all live outside of York.

I have lived in York for 23 years, attended state school and now live in Clifton.

I walk my children to school and have made a decision about how they are educated.

Their personal safety should not be compromised because of the decision their parents made about their education. There are two other obvious access points to the Westminster Road path.

The Avenue is a much more picturesque route. The school path is unlit, quite steep and very uneven.

I hope that the objectors can put aside their personal feelings and consider the safety of these children. Will it take some terrible assault on an innocent child before they realise that a public right of way through a school is just not viable in 2006?

Mrs Sarah Elliot,

Rawcliffe Lane,

York.

Updated: 10:33 Friday, January 20, 2006