The council has decided to discontinue the free bus service between Childrey and King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage starting from September of the next academic year, despite appeals from parents. This means students will either need to pay to use the bus service or walk a nearly three-mile route to school, which the council has designated as suitable.
This decision, announced in March, caused anger and opposition from both parents and councillors, who criticized the designated walking route as unsafe, calling it a “pothole-ridden dirt track.” Following these concerns, an independent appeal panel conducted a reinspection of the bridleway on June 12. While the panel confirmed that the council had applied its policy correctly and upheld the decision, they also noted safety issues with the route.
Richard Hodby, clerk to the appeal panel, acknowledged in an email to a parent that the route is isolated and poorly lit after dark, making it unsafe for an unaccompanied child. However, he clarified that the council’s Home to School Travel and Transport policy for 2022/23 defines safety narrowly, focusing primarily on pedestrian-vehicle interactions. According to the panel, the route has minimal such interactions, with minimal traffic, good visibility at crossings, and sufficient verges for pedestrians to avoid vehicles.
Parents, who have no option to appeal the panel’s final decision, remain frustrated. Natasha Beames, whose daughter is in Year Eight, expressed safety concerns and questioned the timing of the inspection. She argued that the assessment should have taken place in winter to reflect the bridleway’s worst conditions, such as rain-filled potholes and reduced visibility during darker months.
Another parent, Sarah Chambers, echoed these concerns, highlighting the challenges of walking the route in winter darkness and rain. She suggested that Highways should improve the path and install solar lighting to increase safety during darker periods. Similarly, Michael Hadley, a servicemember and parent, criticized the decision, pointing out that the evaluation took place during a heatwave, which didn’t accurately represent the route’s true year-round conditions. Hadley expressed disappointment, particularly given his military service, in the local government’s prioritization of child safety.
Councillor Paul Barrow, representing Ridgeway on the Vale of White Horse District Council, condemned the decision as a serious failure to ensure child welfare and safety. He pledged to lobby county councillors in an effort to reverse the decision.
In response, a county council spokesperson defended their decision, stating that children walking to and from school would likely do so during daylight hours and in the presence of other students, minimizing concerns about isolation. They also affirmed that the safety evaluation was conducted by a qualified Road Safety Inspector while schools were in session and close to typical school walking times. Concerning winter conditions, including puddles, they argued these would not significantly affect the usability of the route.
Despite these assurances, the decision to withdraw the free bus service has left parents feeling confused, frustrated, and concerned about their children’s safety as they prepare for longer, potentially unsafe commutes to school.
If you’re concerned about transport options in the area or need alternatives, consider exploring our [local transport, taxis, and couriers directory](https://wantage.com/directory/categories/transport-taxis-couriers/). For details on how to create a free local business profile or submit upcoming events to keep engaged with Wantage’s community, visit [this page](https://wantage.com/submit-listing/).
