School buses face the axe
Hundreds of school children could be left stranded after major cuts to bus services in the borough.
Surrey County Council is planning to save cash by revamping its £11 million service – scrapping underused routes and some special school buses.
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All change: Bus users from Reigate School may have to find other ways to get to class Photo no: RSMdb171109E06
Despite the council still battling to retrieve £20 million lost in the Icelandic banking debacle, it claims the review follows complaints from residents "concerned about empty buses travelling around Surrey".
Further services facing the chop include the 324 from Redhill to Horley, which stops at the Tesco Extra in Hookwood.
The move could see pupils struggling to get to classes with five schools and colleges affected in the Reigate and Banstead area.
Under proposals drawn up by the council, the 649 to St Bede's School in Redhill, the 657 to East Surrey College in Redhill, the 660 to Oakwood School in Horley, the 658 and 677 to Reigate School and the 324, 657 and 677 to Reigate College are all under threat.
John Cain, head of Reigate School, Pendleton Way, said: "We think they're looking at certain buses because our catchment area has reduced significantly over the years and we have fewer and fewer children coming from outside the immediate areas.
"The older year groups will be affected as they started coming here before the catchment area reduced.
"I also understand the 677, which has a cheaper fare, is normally completely crowded as it's used by Reigate College students and we've had parents complain that the bus has just left their child at the bus stop.
"It's because children are always going to opt for the cheaper fare, even if it's a bit longer."
Other services which face the axe include the 435 between Whitebushes and Redhill, and the 430 between Meadvale and St Johns Park.
Council chiefs say this is the first of three phases which will save the council £4 million over four years.
Ian Lake, Surrey County Council cabinet member for transport, said: "It's about balancing affordability with demand.
"There are no easy answers, but it would be irresponsible for us to continue supporting lesser-used routes at the cost of ones that people use the most.
"It costs £1.7 million a year to run the school special routes, and yet the children who use them regularly represent only four percent of the 60,000 secondary school children living in Surrey.
"That's £750 a year in subsidy to transport each child to school.
"Clearly this is not financially sustainable for the long term.
"However, we recognise there is a need, so we are working with schools across the phase one areas to explore solutions.
"Those pupils entitled to free school transport will continue to receive it."
10 Comments
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by Nicky, Molesey
Thursday, December 17 2009, 6:41PM
“It is not only school buses which are to be axed but ordinary fare paying buses. Many of the so-called school buses are just extra buses of ordinary fare buses.”
by annonymous, Redhill
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 8:51PM
“Why have school buses anyway.Never had them when I was at school, we got the train or pulic busses and walked and later used bicycles. School buses add to congestion cause damage to pavements and in my area block narrow roads making it impossible for residents to uas the roads at school start and finish times.”
by Negative, The Cronx
Sunday, November 22 2009, 12:00AM
“Well, unless they provide faith schools next to each secular school, then they are denying kids of faiths access to faith schools if they can't get there. Best thing to do is just do away with faith schools - the just encourage discrimination.”
by Religious discrimination, Reigate
Saturday, November 21 2009, 8:13AM
“With regard to the previous comment, the provision of bus transport to religious schools is not mandatory but discretionary. The Council is concerned about spending £750 per student who travels on the school buses but it spends exactly the same amount on transporting pupils to and from St Bede's School in Redhill. Some 400 pupils travel free on the contract coaches to that school each day - the cost to the County Council is over £350000 per year - yet why is the Council not considering the cost of the contract coaches as part of this review. is this discrimination on religious grounds?”
by Negative, The Cronx
Saturday, November 21 2009, 12:00AM
“Well, as long as the council doesn't go around prosecuting parents for kids that can't get to school, or trying to force public institutions to introduce environmental policies. And if kids can't get to a religious denomination school of their choice due to no transport, then parent can take the council to court. They should make the people who make these decisions take the bus to and from work as a punishment!”