Proposal to cut 16 bus routes in Cornwall scrapped

Some parents were concerned about the safety if the services were scrapped

BBC A photo of a bus — Some parents were concerned about the safety if the services were scrapped

A proposal to cut bus services across Cornwall has been scrapped by the council.

Children would have had to walk to school if the cuts had gone ahead, which prompted protests by parents.

A cabinet meeting on Wednesday agreed to review its home-to-school transport policy, meaning 16 routes are now safe.

Councillor Barbara Ellenbroek said the cuts could have had an affect on "families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis".

Ms Ellenbroek, portfolio holder for children and families, said: "I need to make it very clear that the routes under discussion during the process are now off the table.

"In other words, there is no route that is being looked at currently."

She added: "So anyone who thinks I'm trying to make children walk to schools to their deaths is completely wrong."

'Sensible and pragmatic'

The routes included Porthtowan to Mount Hawke Academy, Tregadillet to Launceston College and St Cleer to Liskeard School and Community College, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A period of public engagement led to 1,195 responses in October, and parents organised protest walks on routes in and around St Agnes, St Just and St Austell.

Following the meeting, Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, welcomed "the sensible and pragmatic decision by Cornwall Council's cabinet to take these plans back to the drawing board, following the outcome of the consultation, and am grateful that they have listened and acted accordingly".

Parent James Howlett, who lives near Liskeard, said: "Thankfully it's now off the table for the immediate future, we're now going to keep our eye on what happens in regards to the brief they used to judge this policy with.

"How far are they going to change it, what they're going to change."