Parent concern over North Yorkshire school bus catchment change

The county's free school bus service, pictured in Reeth, Swaledale, could be set to change

Parents in rural parts of North Yorkshire have shared their concern over a plan to change school bus services to cut costs.

North Yorkshire Council has started a consultation that could result in free bus travel only being offered to the nearest school in the catchment area.

One mother said it would make life "difficult" for those in remote areas.

The authority said it was gathering feedback from families and schools across the county.

Beverley Rutter said her daughter Amelia was reliant on the service to get from their home in the village of Reeth, Swaledale, to her school in Richmond.

"It's a priority road so it is gritted every day ready for the schools," she said.

"If it's altered and we have to go to our closest secondary school in Wensleydale, we have to wonder if the roads are going to be gritted if they start sending us round different roads."

She added: "Is there going to be enough buses if they start splitting children up because some children are going to start choosing Richmond School over Wensleydale?"

Beverley Rutter and daughter Amelia are concerned about potential school bus changes

Another parent worried about potential catchment changes is Christine Clarkson, who also lives in the rural village.

Although her young children are currently too young for school, she is concerned about the future of school transport.

"Our nearest school is 14 miles away over a massive hill, which is often blocked in winter and the detour around by gritted routes would be about 50 miles," she said.

"They'll just miss lots and lots of days of schooling."

'Challenging financial climate'

Out of the 75,000 pupils currently attending schools across North Yorkshire, the number of those accessing free home to school transport is 10,500 - or 14% - the authority said.

The service, projected to cost £42m in the current financial year, is the council's third biggest expenditure behind adult social care and waste management.

It estimated the move could save up to £2.8m annually.

A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said: "Our council, like many others, finds itself in a challenging financial climate.

"We must strike the right balance to fulfil the competing needs of our statutory services, while ensuring other services are sustainable."

They added: "The authority is holding feedback sessions in schools and halls across the county throughout March before the consultation deadline on 12 April."