Council backs down after telling dad not to let his daughter, 7, walk 20 metres alone
COUNCIL bosses have admitted a dad allowing his seven-year-old daughter to walk 20 metres alone to catch the school bus is not a child protection issue.
A national media furore ensued after the Echo revealed on Monday Lincolnshire County Council had written to the parents of Isabelle McCullough because she had to walk 20 metres on her own.
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Mark McCullough and daughter Isabelle, 7.
But the council has backed down and admitted the letter was heavy-handed.
Mark McCullough was reprimanded by the council for not making sure his daughter was accompanied to the top of the courtyard in Glentham, near Gainsborough, where they live to catch the bus to nearby Normanby-by-Spital Primary School.
The council wrote to Mr McCullough, saying a routine inspection revealed that the driver of the bus felt obliged to help Isabelle safely across Caenby Road at the end of the day when dropping her off on the opposite side of the road to Chapel Court.
Mr McCullough, who works as a refuse collector, was also criticised for sending Isabelle to school on Thursday without a jumper.
He told the Echo he was not going to back down and wrap Isabelle in cotton wool, and, if necessary, would have gone to court.
But Debbie Barnes, assistant director of children's services at the council, said the authority is no longer pursuing the 20-metre walk as a child protection issue.
Ms Barnes said: "In hindsight, the tone and phrasing of the letter should have been better and this will not be pursued as a child protection issue."
Ms Barnes said the letter was sent to Mr McCullough as the council was trying to act responsibly.
Mr McCullough said he and partner, Natasha Fegan, 33, are now accompanying Isabelle to and from the bus stop as a result of the media coverage.
The couple have two children and have custody of Mr McCullough's other three children, including Isabelle.
He said: "I have given the council what they wanted.
"There's that much coverage, I daren't leave Isabelle on the side of the road on her own.
"I would have probably ended up in court because no one would be any the wiser apart from the council, who would have taken further action.
"They have backed down but managed to wrap another child up in cotton wool."
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by MABLUE, gainsborugh
Sunday, September 19 2010, 1:24AM
“wot everyone fails to know that this has been going on since this kid was 6 years old. as a parent if i knew that the old bus driver had died and a new firm was responsible for my child i would like to make sure that at least they were sure that she was being picked up let alone dropped off. she has NO coat on when it was bitterly cold, she was not in view of her house window for her parents to check on, even though the dad starts work as a bin man at 6.30am ish and the mother well not sure wot she does in the morning but knowing that she prefers to watch Mr Kyle in the afternoon than pick up her child as the child actually told the driver that. the driver should NOT be vilaviled i would do the same in his shoes if i had to leave other children on a bus to make sure THAT child got home ok when her own parents couldn't be bothered. if something bad had happened would those same responsible parents blaming the driver for not doing more. if nothing else come of this publicity that the parents created then at least this child is going to be more safe. credit to the driver, council safety etc. CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSE TO BE FOR LIFE NOT JUST A TAX CREDIT ALLOWANCE”
by David, lincoln
Thursday, September 16 2010, 8:12AM
“"What a caring bus driver. Well done for expressing your concerns. That looks like a busy through road which no seven year old should have the responsibility to cross. At seven years old, I never let my two children out of the boundary of my street."
you had two children at 7 years of age wow you started young Nikki”
by david, lincoln
Thursday, September 16 2010, 8:11AM
“Nanny state strikes again. In case you didn't catch it the first time........BUTT out we don't need nannying!!!”
by Jim, ...
Wednesday, September 15 2010, 6:50PM
“At 7 years old children cycle to school alone in the Netherlands, at 7 years old children have just started school in Poland and walk to school with their friends, in Switzerland it is deemed overprotective and a bad influence on your child if you do not let them walk to school from age 5 with their friends, in Ireland my cousin's children regularly walk 1 mile from the main road after the bus has dropped them off ...strange we are more protective here and as a result crime rises.”
by Alan, Portland Street
Wednesday, September 15 2010, 2:07PM
“She's 7 years old!!! If she was 12 then fair enough, but 7! I mean is this guy serious? To right the council sent him a letter and well done that bus driver. I would have reported him too. It is not wrapping children up in cotton wool by making sure they get to and from the school bus even if it is only a few yards away. Please tell me what is more important than this childs safety?”