We need sustainable transport to schools

FOLLOWING your article on Thursday, March 11, regarding school transport and the loss of the bus from Bradfield and Bucklebury to The Downs School in Compton, West Berkshire Council is failing to ensure all children in catchment and out of catchment can get to school in the most environmentallyfriendly and affordable way, especially if they don’t have the luxury of the mum’s/dad’s taxi. These children need low-cost, longterm, sustainable ways to get to school and not rely on the environmentally backwards and short-sighted assumption that everyone everywhere has access to a car.

It is particularly a problem for children whose catchment school is not the closest to where they live and for children in rural areas who have a long way to go to get to school, who may be spending hundreds of pounds per term on school transport.

This can be a lot of money for parents to find out of declining family budgets, and is a problem ignored by the current administration at West Berks Council.

Through better procurement of environmentally-friendly school transport, more education on options like walking and cycling, as well as transport sharing schemes, and ensuring the children have cost effective, sustainable choices, the Lib Dems in West Berks would make sure children can get to schools without damaging their parent’s pockets or the environment.

ERIK PATTENDEN

Liberal Democrat shadow portfolio holder for children, education and culture

Ward councillor for Greenham West Berkshire Council