School bus route at risk in Brighton and Hove ... again (From The Argus)
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School bus route at risk in Brighton and Hove ... again
3:10pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Protesters outside Hove Town Hall last year
A school bus service that campaigners fought to save from the axe less than a year ago is under threat again.
As it looks to make millions of pounds of savings, Brighton and Hove City Council wants to cut the £30,000 subsidy a year to the 96.
Local authority bosses believe it can work with parents and schools to find a more suitable way to transport the 36 children that rely on the route every day.
It comes eight months after parents got the service reinstated for a year when council chiefs threatened to scrap it.
Councillors who will discuss the issue again in a meeting tomorrow (March 21) are split on whether the service, which is used by children in Hollingbury, Patcham and Seven Dials to get to Hove schools, should be ended in September.
Sue Shanks, the chairman of the children’s and young people committee, said: “We understand that the withdrawal of the route is going to cause problems for some but, in these difficult times, we have been faced with many hard decisions.”
The local authority claims the number of users is dropping as the Westdene area is no longer in the catchment area for Hove Park and Blatchington Mill.
Rather than wait for all the affected pupils to finish their education, the council wants to withdraw the bus and find an alternative.
Council bosses admit that “some limited resources” may be needed to pay for this although no details have been provided.
'Grossly unfair'
Conservative councillor Andrew Wealls said he agreed the number of pupils using the service was dwindling but said it was “imperative” alternative arrangements were made.
He added: “To pull the rug from under their feet at this stage in their school careers would be grossly unfair.”
Labour group leader Gill Mitchell said she felt it should be retained as parents had made their choice of school on the basis that school transport would be provided.
The council had to row back from a similar plan last year after it was greeted with opposition from parents and children.
School transport policy
At the time, parents claimed it would mean their children have to get two buses to do the two and a half mile journey to school every day.
It is part of a wider look at home to school transport being discussed at the council’s policy and resources meeting tomorrow.
Among the plans are to extend the 91 so that it runs from Ovingdean to Cardinal Newman School.
The 74 and 75 bus services to Patcham High School would also be retained.
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Comments(4)
just-a-person
says...
6:34pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Phani Tikkala wrote:Agree with you on the cycle lanes but the kids could always go to a school within walking distance. Just think how much traffic that would take off the roads.
Shanks: "...faced with many hard decisions".
.... like approving stupid underused and expensive cycle lanes, traffic schemes designed to make it difficult and slow to drive into the centre, parking charges that make it extortionate to park when you get there, skate parks, substantial drop in visitor numbers, cut school bus routes...
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
8:56pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Note this ward is a Green voting ward.
The timetable helps out the private, profit making monopoly bus service.
The same bus service which has been given sole access to a £4 million bus lane on the Lewes Road which the city's council tax payers have funded.
Will the city's council tax payers continue to pay for the resurfacing of these routes which are solely used by the private bus company?
When will The Argus start to look at the amount of direct and indirect benefit this council is giving to a monopoly company?
lydz25
says...
12:42pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Phani Tikkala says...
4:23pm Wed 20 Mar 13
.... like approving stupid underused and expensive cycle lanes, traffic schemes designed to make it difficult and slow to drive into the centre, parking charges that make it extortionate to park when you get there, skate parks, substantial drop in visitor numbers, cut school bus routes...