Oxfordshire parents worried about hour-long school walks for kids

From September the Spare Seats Scheme on nine routes including the Marlborough School in Woodstock, Wood Green School in Witney and St Joseph’s School in Carterton is being withdrawn.

The scheme allows parents and carers who did not qualify for free home-to-school transport to pay for seats on buses where there was space.

This academic year, parents have been able to pay £244 per term for a seat where available, and if the journey was three miles or more.

Representatives from the council had a Teams meeting with some 40 parents from Wood Green School last week who said they could not understand the economic or environmental arguments for withdrawing the scheme.

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Amanda Mann said: "I am still unclear as to how stopping kids who pay to use a service makes financial sense, despite having asked for clarification. We just keep getting the response that costs have gone up."

She said: "Their original letter said that they would be commissioning a smaller bus for kids with free entitlement only, meaning that there would be fewer seats available for those who pay."

But parents, who want to keep paying, have not been told what the new cost would likely be as the council had not yet obtained quotes.

"We don't understand the apparent apathy," she said.

Mrs Mann, from Hailey, said all the village parents were also concerned that if they can't get the bus children will have to walk along the B4022.

She said: "In 2015 it was decided this was an acceptable and safe walking route. It was disputed at the time but the parents lost.

"It's not the A40 but in rush hour there's a lot of cars going up and down that road.

"They have decided 20mph is needed in Witney 'for safety' but they're saying it's safe to walk down a narrow footpath on a 40mph road 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise.

"Then they say we should escort our children to school. I can't walk for an hour with my five-year-old daughter in tow at 7.30am in the dark."

And, she said, very few parents had the time.

"If our kids can’t get the bus, we will be forced to change our jobs in some cases and drive them - not part of OCC policy to reduce car journeys!"

County councillor Liam Walker, who represents Hanborough and Minster Lovell, also attended the meeting and "completely" supports local parents.

He said: "There seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking between the council's commitment to reduce car journeys whilst also cutting transport which will result in more cars on the road.

"The online meeting on Friday was useful but I still feel there is still some clarity needed on what the next steps are to make sure the route is safe to walk and what options might be available for transport options with other providers.

"We will continue working with county council officers to hopefully find a suitable resolution to this." 

Admissions and Transport Services Manager at Oxfordshire County Council Neil Darlington has agreed to request a review of the safety of the route.

But a spokesperson reiterated the county council's position.

"We are reducing the number of spare seats in the scheme on certain contracts that need to be renewed, and where we currently have high levels of students travelling who are not entitled to free home to school transport.

"The new contracts make it unaffordable for us to continue to provide the same number of spare seats.

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"We are very mindful when making these difficult decisions of the impact on the parents who will have to make alternative arrangements; and on the environment and reducing carbon.

"But this has to be balanced against the council’s budget."

Mrs Mann said:"We await the results of road safety assessment. Obviously this would be good for us if it’s deemed unsafe as we’ll get the free bus back which was taken away in 2015.

"But we would be happy with a continuation of the current arrangement.

"We are not asking for the moon on a stick!"

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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