Back in July the head teacher of John Hampden School, Stephen Noakes, told this newspaper that he would be very surprised if Bucks County Council’s plans to make radical changes to the delivery of the school transport service in the Wycombe area went ahead. He and the heads of neighbouring schools went so far as to describe the plans as ‘farcical and dangerous’, whilst expressing astonishment that the changes had been scheduled without any consultation with the affected institutions or parents. Cllr Mike Appleyard (the Cabinet Member for Education) met with the heads several times as a result of their concern and whilst affirming that Phase One of the planned changes would still go ahead in September, there would be further consultation about subsequent changes being made to save £5M from the county council budget.

And what happened?

As predicted by the schools, the return to school for the new academic year was chaotic. School staff were taken away from their teaching duties to help children who were arriving up to 20 minutes late, some for their first day at secondary school, because unrealistic schedules for rush hour travel rendered the timetable impossible for the poor drivers, who have to bear the brunt of the frustration and anger of parents. And these parents had their annual charges raised from £390 to £570 this year, a 50% cost increase for an inferior, ill thought out service, resulting in much longer journeys for many. Small wonder some parents are looking elsewhere for their children’s travel.

BCC are at pains to point out that they only have a statutory obligation to provide school transport for students between the ages of 5 and 16 who live more than three miles away from their school. However, anyone who drives regularly around the area will know the huge difference in the volume of rush hour travel that happens when the schools are open. If more cars were to be introduced into the mix by parents who for whatever reason decide to deliver their children themselves, the result will be gridlock squared.

Yes it is a difficult job to balance local authority budgets at present, but it cannot be achieved to anyone’s satisfaction without extensive and real consultation and complete openness. Employing a company as a buffer between the council and the bus companies to organise it all may not be the most sensible or even economical solution.