Devon Parents Express Concern Over School Bus Service Cancellation

Parents in Devon have voiced “shock and fear” regarding the potential for their children to walk to school, following the council’s proposal to discontinue their bus service. Devon County Council has put forward a plan to eliminate a school bus route connecting Westward Ho! with Bideford College, citing enhancements to the designated walking path as the reason. Nevertheless, parents contend that if the bus service is discontinued in February 2025, children would be required to traverse a 50-minute walking route characterized by inadequate lighting, constricted lanes, and potential flood hazards. The council stated that a review of the route concluded the walk was safe, and parents retain the right to appeal this determination. Furthermore, the council informed parents that children would be expected to wear high-visibility clothing and be accompanied by a parent or carer. Rick MacMahon, whose two children, aged 15 and 14, attend Bideford College, indicated that this requirement would pose difficulties for working parents. He expressed being “shocked” upon hearing about the plans to cancel the service in favor of a purportedly “safe” walking route, stating: “It’s frankly dangerous. I’m shocked scared and upset, as are all the parents.” Mr. MacMahon raised personal safety concerns regarding children as young as 11 utilizing the route, asserting: “It’s not a safe place to be walking alone.” He described the prospect of children navigating narrow lanes and “dodging fast moving cars” as “terrifying,” also noting that a nearby ford presents a flooding risk. Laura Gould, also a parent with two children at Bideford College, stated that students would encounter a single track, brambles, mud, insufficient street lighting, poor mobile phone reception, and “isolation.” She commented: “Having a teenage daughter it’s frightening to think she’ll be walking on her own for quite a long period, with nobody around.” Ms. Gould noted that a school bus service to the college has existed since her own attendance 22 years prior, adding: “I don’t understand why now when there’s more children needing the service that they’ve decided to stop it.” Dermot McGeough, the local councillor, asserted that the road is “not fit for purpose” as a walking route to school. He further stated: “I’d love to know where the idea has come from.” “Being a Devon county councillor I find it absolutely shocking that Devon County Council would treat us with such disrespect.” “This bus should not be pulled away from our children.” Dr. Claire Ankers, principal of Bideford College and Atlantic Academy, emphasized that ensuring children’s safe travel to school is a “top priority.” She also commented: “I appreciate parents’ concerns about the recent changes to the bus route from Westward Ho! to the school and do agree with them that it would be preferable if the bus continued to drop students directly at Bideford College. “I understand that parents have started a petition asking Devon County Council to reconsider their position on this and I hope the council will be open to listening to the views of the local community on this important matter.”” A spokesperson for the council stated: “Following a recent route review, we have determined there to now be [a] safe route for a secondary aged child to walk if accompanied.” “As a result, we have written to parents informing that their child’s transport provision will be withdrawn and advised them that they have the right to appeal.”