Silsden politicians claim parents in the town were not consulted about planned cuts to school bus services.

Town councillors Adrian Naylor and Chris Atkinson are angry Silsden children attending Skipton schools will lose their dedicated bus from September.

They say pupils will instead have to catch a bus to Steeton then a second to Skipton.

The morning and afternoon school bus – service 957C – is one of many currently subsidised by North Yorkshire County Council.

The local authority announced last autumn it would cut subsidies to children who paid for bus travel, as part of a £2 million budget saving on bus spending.

The council will continue to provide transport for children who are entitled to free home-to-school transport.

Changes apply to children living in areas including Lothersdale, Silsden and Farnhill, and will take effect on September 14.

The county council carried out an extensive consultation before deciding where to make the cuts.

But the Silsden councillors say neither they, nor parents on the West Yorkshire side of the border, were asked for their views.

Adrian Naylor, who is both a Silsden and Bradford councillor, said parents were “up in arms” they had not been informed about the planned changes.

He added: “They pay about £360 a year for each child to get to school by bus – now they’re being asked to pay £480.

“There is no alternative bus in the morning – they would have to go over to Steeton and take another bus to Skipton bus station.

“Walking to Steeton involves crossing the by-pass at the busiest time of the day.”

Coun Naylor said rather than setting off at 8am, as at present, children will have to leave at 7.30am, arriving in Skipton at 8.20am before facing a 20-minute walk to their schools.

Coun Atkinson, the Silsden mayor, said the council’s recent survey of residents showed them strongly in favour of a direct bus route to Skipton.

He added: “It’s strange North Yorkshire County Council didn’t consult anyone here. It doesn’t bother about West Yorkshire.”

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