“Instead of closing the path and giving in to silly little boys and girls who can't behave, the schools involved must sort out the children and punish them for their behaviour.
I regularly use the footpath,at times other than school closing, and have never seen any trouble, so I assume the trouble is caused at the end of the school day.
Don't let the behaviour of a few children cause disruption to the majority.
It sounds like the trouble makers are children so treat them as such and remember that the ADULTS ARE IN CHARGE.”

“My son has used this path and yes has been assaulted on it. Perhaps the headteacher of school children responsible for the attack would like to spend some time at the end of a school day supervising his pupils to make sure they don't attack another child because of the school they attend.
My child now uses an alternative route to avoid them.”

“How exactly will the closure of a public footpath change the mentality of the people that are the causing the problems?? It won't and I don't believe it should be closed. Why should ordinary people have to suffer because of a small minority.

(that said, I have never encountered any problems whilst using this route)”

“I wonder if all of those who do not want the path closed would still hold the same opinion if somebody in their family was a victim? I very much doubt it....
I attended this school in the late 80's/early 90's and this pathway always caused problems! there would often be running battles with students from woodlands coming over the bridge from Allestree.
St. Benedict's differs slightly from other schools in that, due to it being catholic it attracts students from a wider catchment area than most. Problems were caused by kids from 'less privelidged' areas taking the opportunity to have a go at the 'posh kids' because it was easy to do so because access to the school was so easy using this footpath.
I'm not saying this is still the case, just highlighting that this is not a new problem.”

“So Darley Abbey has one of the worst council estates in the UK, according to MR of Broadway, probably thinks that is a shameless comment, can't imagine they've travelled very far within the East Mids, never mind the UK.
I would have thought that in 2010, we could utilise CCTV technology better around this footpath, having said that, another attack in Curzon St suggests it's no deterrent anyway!”

“Firstly, this public footpath existed before St Benedicts (Ralph Sherwin school originally) and the A38 major works. Therefore it and any other public right of way should remain, as they are a necessary and essential means of access.

About five years ago the school erected a high security fence on both sides of the path where it crosses the school grounds. I believe that this has made the situation worse because anyone using the path and encountering bullies or any other intimidating/dodgy individuals has knowwhere to go. They are in effect trapped on the path and cannot 'escape' onto the playing fields or into the school.

Until recently I used this route outside school hours twice a day for the past 20 years and in all that time have never had any trouble. It would therefore suggest that the problems only occur when pupils are using the path, it should be the responsibility of the school to ensure their safety and prevent misuse.

Closing the path will only move the problem to the front of the school next to a busy road and deprive locals of a very useful and necessary footpath.”

“Has anyone ever thought of MOVING the footpath to around the side of the playing field, with a high fence, and lit and have CCTV Dome cams? Then pupils at the school would be safe, and members of the public would have a footpath to walk on.

Just a thought!”

“I am shocked as I thought Allestree and Darley Abbey were safer areas.”

“Tom, it's not known for it because they keep it very quiet! Allestree has a very dangerous gang which has caused several young members of my family to land in hospital, mainly when just visiting the Shell garage. Also, Darley Abbey has one of the worst council 'estates' in the UK relating to drugs. It is just cleverly hidden by the nice houses on the main road. (It's hardly an estate either, more like a few houses!) Anyway, my real comment is why doesn't the head teacher and the police tackle the problem rather than close the footpath? This path can be quite threatening to certain types of people but you never see anyone doing anything about it. It is because of people's thinking that it is 'posh' (which for Derby it is) that these issues are not taken seriously. The footpath cant be closed as in theory it is providing a very good service. Just in reality it's another plan that has been ruined.”

“I used to go to this school (4 years ago) and what he is saying is completely true. There always used to be groups of chavs at the end of the gitty at the end of the day waiting "to get someone". The gitty is also used by the pupils for smoking (guilty) and drug taking! I'm with Reynolds 100%. There shouldn't be a public footpath going through any school. How would anybody else like there children freely accessably to the freaks and weirdos that walk the streets!!!”