Community leaders in Peasedown St John have criticised a recent decision to cut school transport for some children living in the village, without public consultation.
Parents of children living near a public bus stop received a letter from B&NES Council’s Transport Department earlier this month saying that designated buses would no longer be provided, and they’d need to catch a public bus to Radstock and walk up the hill to Writhlington.
Over 30 families with children in Years 9, 10 and 11 at Writhlington School have been affected.
Last week, local Councillors Sarah Bevan and Karen Walker wrote to the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Transport, and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to vent their frustrations.
Veteran Councillor Sarah Bevan (Independent) has long been an opponent of cuts to school transport. She said: “B&NES Council unfortunately has a long history of making cuts to services that affect some of the most vulnerable in our community.
“The previous administration cut school transport for children on the grounds of their religious belief, and now the Conservatives are cutting services for 30 children in Peasedown St John only – just because of where they live.
“We should be looking after our children, not only by ensuring we have excellent local schools, but by also making sure we have bus services that can get them there in the first place!
“Cllr Walker and I have written to the council leadership to ask they reinstate the services with immediate effect.”
With the new academic year starting in just a few days’ time, the council chose to inform parents via letter during the school holidays.
It’s been reported that no public consultation was carried out, nor did any representative from the local authority visit Peasedown to see how the changes would impact families.
Designated bus services for all children attending Writhlington School have been provided by B&NES Council, and predecessor councils, for over 40 years.
Cllr Karen Walker (Independent) added: “Bus services to Writhlington School have been provided for as long as I can remember.
“I used to catch an allocated bus from my home in Frederick Avenue in the 1970’s and my sons used the same service to the same school in the 1990’s.
“So, why the change now? What frustrates me the most is the lack of any public consultation, and poor communication from the Transport Department with anyone else. This badly thought out change needs to be reversed as soon as possible.”
Sarah and Karen are keeping affected parents and their children updated on the issue via their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/KarenandSarah.
