LIBERAL Democrat councillors at Warrington are going on the offensive over the borough council’s controversial proposals to cut spending on school buses.
Cllr Ted Finnegan has condemned the proposals as “objectionable” while Cllr Peter Walker is expressing concern that decision may have already been taken, even though public consultation does not end until September 26.
Both have put down questions for Cllr Colin Froggatt, executive member for children’s services at tonight’s meeting of the borough council.
The council has been consulting for some time on proposals to change Warrington’s home-to-school transport policy which would mean an end to the free school bus for hundreds of children.
People are being asked to give their views about the proposals which are designed to save the borough council about £114,000-a-year.
Home-to-school transport is discretionary so the council say it must be looked at to make savings.
The council says children most likely to be affected are those who attend faith schools, 
those who attend community schools more than the statutory walking distance from their homes when there are places available at a nearer school and those attending special schools who have no medical need for transport.
Parents in several parts of the borough have protested about the proposals – but council chiefs say the changes would bring Warrington into line with other councils who have already decided to make provision only when there is a legal obligation to do so.
Cllr Finnegan, in his question for tonight’s meeting, asks why the council “objectionably” chosen to charge young families of Grappenhall and Thelwall for getting their children to Lymm High School when there is no other school closer to send them to.
Cllr Walker says some parents have heard rumours that bus providers have already been told their existing contracts will end. He is demanding confirmation that no decision will be taken until the consultation has finished and that any changes – should there be any – will not be introduced until next year’s autumn term.
Pictured: Cllr Finnegan (top) and Cllr Walker
School bus review under attack
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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The leadership of this council should hang their heads in shame for this proposal. Saving £114,000 a year could be done just by getting rid of the chief executives post (as a lot of councils have done around the country) we do not need this highly paid, white elephant figurehead. Cutting the salaries of the deputy directors and the rest of the management within the council would save even more…..I thought Labour were supposed to be all for the working man; or did Tony Blair and his crowd put paid to that idea?
What an outrageous proposal from a Labour controlled Council. Indeed, WBC councillors should hang their heads in shame for this proposal together with proposals coming from the Social Services department. If the best that they can do to reduce their budget deficeit is to attack the vulnerable in our Town then we could well do without them. I agree that the best proposal would be to get rid of the CE post (as other councils are suggesting) as we can quite well do without this figurehead rather than spend money on allowing the newly appointed Interim CE to spend OUR money in installing a highly paid replacement! We can but live in hope!!!