AN Ilkley headteacher has hit out at plans to withdraw two bus services which could see pupils forced to change schools.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is currently reviewing a number of its Mybus primary school services which do not meet its value for money criteria, including the P98 and P99 which serve All Saints, Ashlands, Ben Rhydding, and Sacred Heart primary schools. It proposes to withdrawn them after the end of the current academic year.

As well as providing a service for children in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding, they also bring in children from Addingham, Burley, and Menston.

Sacred Heart’s headteacher Amanda Rhodes said withdrawing the services could mean children are left without any means of transport to school – forcing their parents into moving them.

Ms Rhodes said: “Parents are really upset. For some, their children would have to leave this school.

"We’ve had one parent saying they’re going to have to look for a different job. For those parents, it’s devastating news.

"We’ve asked WYCA a number of questions about denying the child a right to an education.

"There’s very few places in local schools.

"One family are devastated, their little boy is really anxious and upset that he will have to leave the school.”

Ben Rhydding resident David Nunns set up a petition last month in a bid to save the primary school bus services. It has now closed having been signed by over 450 people and it will be submitted to Bradford Council and WYCA.

The petition notes that nearly 70 children are registered for the services. It says the buses “provide an environmentally friendly, convenient and vital service to residents who need to get their children safely to school” and their withdrawal would increase pollution and lead to additional childcare costs for parents.

Mr Nunns said: “I am delighted that so many people signed the petition. I hope WYCA will realise how important these services are to the community and will now reconsider their plans. I have lived in Ben Rhydding for over 40 years and my children and grandchildren went to school in the town, so I know how important these buses are to the children and their parents.”

District Councillor Andrew Loy (Conservative, Ilkley) welcomed the news that the petition had been submitted: “Many residents have contacted me with concerns about local bus services. I have submitted my own response to WYCA asking them to retain these vital school bus services, so I am pleased that so many residents have signed this petition to show their support.”

A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesperson said: “No decision has yet been made on the future of the services, and the petition will be considered as part of our engagement work with residents and parents.

“We are determined to deliver the best possible start in life for every youngster in the region and that includes getting them safely to and from school.

“Bus usage is low on particular routes across the region, and we have been hit by inflation and cost pressures that are outside of our control. This is why we are engaging with the public and looking for the best way to protect the future of some school bus routes for pupils across parts of West Yorkshire.

"A final decision will be taken on the future of bus services in the Spring, and take effect from September. Anyone can take part in the survey on our Mybus Primary Engagement 2023 webpage by Friday, March 17.”