Parents and teachers thought they had found a safe route to school - a footpath laid after months of fundraising to ensure children were not injured on a busy road.
But today’s compensation culture has prompted a landlord to ban youngsters from using the path which cuts across his pub’s land amid fears he could be sued if they trip and injure themselves.
The footpath, which runs over land belonging to the White Hart pub in Kidderminster, has been declared out of bounds since the start of term with a sign now warning it is a no-go area.
Pupils making their way to Hartlebury First School are now being forced to walk on a narrow pavement, close to passing cars and lorries, even though their parents and teachers paid for the path to be laid.
Current licensee Matthew Lees said today it was not safe and needs to be fenced.
He claimed children run the risk of falling down on an uneven field alongside the path and he could be sued for huge sums by parents.
But Hartlebury headteacher Jenny Batelen said there was a lethal bend in the road which children had to walk round which was putting them at risk.
“It is a difficult situation and we are working hard to resolve it,” she said. “The former landlord agreed with the Parents and Teachers Association that it was all right for them to use it.”
School governor and parent April Hawkins said: “The school’s PTA raised money to have the path block paved several years ago. It was a bombshell. I went to pick my children up and saw the notice.
“They are now using a very narrow pavement just inches from big lorries which is increasing the chance of someone being injured.
“Parents are angry, concerned and worried.
“The landlord had been talking about new fencing and we were sent a quote but he didn’t say unless we paid it would be closed.”
Mr Lees said he had been warning the school for nearly a year of the need for a fence.
“This is a compensation culture and if a child broke their ankle I would get sued,” he added. “The pub company told me as I rent the land, I would be liable.”
By Rebecca Jones
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