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Bus cut 'putting money before children's safety'

BBC Holly Fox and Peter Gaston walking along a section of footpath next to a main road. She has long dark hair and is wearing a navy cardigan and jeans, while he has short white hair and is wearing a white shirt and navy trousers. A car can be seen in the background. The road and path have grass verges on either side.BBC
Parent Holly Fox and local councillor Peter Gaston warn the walking route is unsafe

A council is putting money before children's safety by scrapping a free school bus, it is claimed.

From September, youngsters from Great Clifton, in Cumbria, will no longer be able to use the service to travel to Workington Academy.

Cumberland Council said it was following national guidance by having identified a "safe walking route" that pupils can use, while paid-for public transport was also available.

However, parents and a local councillor warn much of the two-mile (3.2km) route runs alongside the busy road and has no lighting.

Holly Fox's daughter is due to attend the secondary school next year.

She said: "It's a 45-minute walk for children. I don't see how the council can deem it safe. To get Connie to school, we will struggle.

"Me and my partner both work 12-hour shifts. We don't have the option to drive her to school so she will rely on public transport that potentially won't have room for more than 30 children.

"As a community, we're really frustrated with our council.

"Council tax went up almost 5% this year and what have we seen? Just cutback after cutback to services that are affecting communities. It's not fair."

'Dark mornings'

Parish councillor Peter Gaston says vehicles along much of the road next to the path are travelling at 60mph (95km/h).

He worries many children will cross the carriageway to buy snacks from a petrol station on their way to and from school.

Peter Gaston pointing at a BP garage on the other side of the road.
Peter Gaston fears youngsters could be hit by fast-moving traffic

"There's no street lighting for half the distance the children will have to walk," he said.

"Their school uniforms are dark. On dark mornings, it's really hard for drivers to see pedestrians in dark clothing.

"Are they putting money before the safety of school children? The answer is yes."

The council said it had "recently undertaken an assessment of safe walking routes to school" to ensure it was following national guidance.

It added: "Where school transport is no longer provided free of charge to families, this will only be where a safe walking route has been identified in line with these requirements."

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