A family has been told their children's free bus passes have been cancelled as there is a three-mile (4.8km) "safe route" to school across fields and over an unguarded railway line.Joe Massey said the decision by Surrey County Council (
SCC‡) had left his family feeling “let down” and “frustrated” after his sons' passes were cut because the route, which he described as "plain dangerous", from South Nutfield to Carrington School in Redhill was found by officials.
The council has written to parents saying children should wear suitable footwear for the walk as a farmer's field they pass through is prone to flooding.
Clare Curran, SCC's cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: "Amidst a set of challenging financial circumstances, the council is not in the position to continue to pay for transport for families due to a safe route being established."
She explained that an annual bus pass on a public service costs the council £881 per year for each student and Mr Massey's sons were no longer eligible.
The decision was taken by the Surrey Travel & Assessment team alongside the Safer Travel team.
Normally, free bus access is provided to those who live more than three miles (4.8km) from their chosen school, and the walk suggested is 4.5km according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Mr Massey said he had two boys who would be impacted, one in year 10 and the other in year seven.
The family say they were "wading through mud" when they tried the "unsuitable" hour-long walk, which they believe is more than three miles. "It’s just plain dangerous,” Mr Massey added.
The father says he is "extremely frustrated" by the situation as "there’s no way in hell you’d send your child on that route. We just feel let down and the option they’ve given us is just unbelievable."
The councillor said the family was able to appeal the decision.
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