North Yorkshire Council has launched a fresh consultation on its controversial school transport policy — prompting campaigners to question whether the authority will listen to residents this time.
Parents, carers, schools and other stakeholders are being asked for their views on proposed changes following a post-implementation review of the home-to-school travel policy introduced in September 2024.
But the School Transport Action Group (STAG), which has opposed the changes from the outset, said the council had been “tone deaf” to families and communities and described the latest proposals as a “patch-up job”.
The current policy changed the main eligibility for free home-to-school transport so that it applies to a child’s nearest suitable school rather than their catchment school.
The council says the changes were introduced to make the service financially sustainable, fair to families and in line with government guidance.
Its post-implementation review has now resulted in 24 recommendations, with the new consultation focusing on seven proposed changes which will ultimately be considered by full council.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, said: “When the policy changed, we promised to review how it was working in practice and to listen to the experiences of families.
“That is exactly what we have done, and this consultation is giving people the chance to give their views of some of the key recommendations.
“We would encourage people to take part as this is your opportunity to have your say and help us to shape the future of our home-to-school travel policy in North Yorkshire.”
However, STAG questioned whether the consultation responses would influence the council’s eventual decision.
A spokesperson said: “Here we go again. Another public consultation on school transport.
“In 2024, 1,299 people responded to the council’s consultation on the proposed policy changes and the feedback was 100 per cent negative. Yet the council went ahead and introduced the policy anyway.
“This council has been tone deaf to the concerns of families, schools and communities from the very beginning.”
The group added: “Residents have spent the last two years putting evidence in front of them and demonstrating the harm being caused and have been totally ignored.
“Now they are asking people to comment on the patch-up job they are proposing on a policy that has been proven to be fundamentally flawed.”
Among the issues included in the consultation are proposals to give greater discretion over routes used to determine a child’s nearest school.
Views are also being sought on whether discretionary measures should apply where two schools share the same drop-off point for council-run transport.
This currently affects Ripon Grammar School and Outwood Academy Ripon, as well as some drop-off points used by Richmond School and St Francis Xavier School.
Five particularly remote routes could also be removed from the council’s mapping system because they can be affected by severe weather or impractical driving conditions.
They are Fleet Moss Road, Keld to Kirkby Stephen, Buttertubs Pass, The Stang and Kidstones Pass.
The council provides home-to-school transport for around 11,000 eligible pupils, with the service costing more than £52m a year.
The executive considered the review’s other 17 recommendations on Friday, approving ten and noting seven relating to measures already contained within the existing policy.
These included continuing to base eligibility for free transport on a child’s nearest suitable school with available places rather than their catchment school.
STAG is urging people to respond to the latest consultation.
The group added: “If people tell you, loud and clear, that this patched-up policy isn’t what they want or need, will you actually listen this time? Or will you simply plough on regardless?”
The consultation runs until Wednesday, November 4. Any approved policy changes will not take effect before September 2027 and will apply to children starting Reception and Year 7 in September 2028.
Take part in the consultation by visiting www.northyorks.gov.uk/PIRsurvey
Be the first to comment