Council 'seeking alternative' to school bus cuts

Pupils from St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College demonstrated outside Bradford City Hall

Two school bus services under threat of being axed could be saved following "constructive dialogue" with councillors, according to one headteacher.

Bradford Council wants to cancel routes serving St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic School and Bingley Grammar School as part of efforts to save £40m.

However, in a letter to parents the headteacher of St Bede's and St Joseph's, Lawrence Bentley, said the council had "indicated they are actively seeking an alternative to a complete removal of services".

Sue Duffy, the council's portfolio holder for children and families, said while "no decision had been made" the authority had been "listening to and talking with the schools which are affected".

Lawrence Bentley, headteacher of St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College says talks with the council have offered "significant" hope.

Mr Bentley wrote to parents in the wake of last week's council meeting when more than 200 pupils demonstrated outside Bradford's City Hall as councillors met to discuss two petitions opposing the cuts.

In the letter, he said since the "fantastic show of support from students and families" at the meeting there had been "ongoing constructive dialogue with the council".

"Crucially, the council have also indicated that they are actively seeking an alternative to a complete removal of services," he said.

He added: "We are pushing hard for a final resolution as soon as possible."

The bus cuts plan, designed to save £500,000 a year, is part of a raft of savings cash-strapped Bradford Council has previously announced.

Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said it was effectively costing the authority £13,500 per eligible pupil at Bingley Grammar School, and £8,000 per eligible pupil for St Bede's, to run the routes.

Duffy said: "This has been a lengthy and thorough consultation on these proposals, no decision has yet been made.

"The consultation closes today, and we have been listening to and talking with the schools which are affected as well as the families of pupils who attend.

"We will now collate all those consultation responses and consider all views before having further conversations with the schools and other partners.

The BBC understands the school and its representatives will meet again with council bosses early in January.

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