PARENTS of students who could be left stranded with no way of getting to school have voiced their concerns after a bus company decide to axe an essential service.
Ipswich Buses’ 694 route from Langham to East Bergholt High School, in Heath Road, Colchester, is set to be removed from the timetable as of this September.
The decision to withdraw the service is due to increasing fuel prices, inflation and the swelling costs of materials used to maintain the company’s fleet.
Currently, about 50 pupils catch the 694 bus, and their parents are now starting to fret about how they will get their children to school when the new year starts.
Gail Hughes, from Langham, whose twin sons are in Year 7, said: “One of the main reasons we chose this school was because of the bus service.
“If that service is withdrawn, trying to juggle getting my Year 5 daughter to her primary school and then the boys to their school on time will be a big problem.
“My husband works in London and on the days of the week I am at work I will need to be on the other side of Ipswich – so I am yet to find a different way around it.
“The really big shame is the boys getting the bus was them getting a bit of independence and if the bus is taken away it will be a backward step.”
Another parent, who asked to remain anonymous, says the cancellation of the bus service will affect his entire family, not just his son who attends East Bergholt.
READ MORE: Students could be left stranded with no way to school as bus company cuts service
He added: “It would impact our younger child in terms of being able to play at the park after school or attend clubs as we could not be in two places at once.
“We would have to make adjustments to work, if allowed – there is a very real possibility I would need to look for an alternative role.
“With a child being hit by a car outside the school in the last few weeks, I don’t understand why adding an additional 50 cars is a reasonable option.
“We do not understand why it is just this service being targeted.”
Ipswich Buses said if a solution can be found to continue the service they will be happy to work with the school and parents.
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