PARENTS from Delabole recently met with Cornwall Councillor for St Teath, St Breward and Delabole Dominic Fairman to discuss beginning the appeal process with Cornwall Council about the ongoing issue of school transport from the Medrose half of the village to Sir James Smith’s School in Camelford. 

After a two-year battle with Cornwall Council and a supportive adjudication from the Local Government Ombudsman, free bus passes were finally issued to children who started at Sir Jim’s in September 2018 or before, and these will be issued for the whole of their time at school. 

However, despite the flaws highlighted in the council’s appeal process, Cornwall Council are still maintaining that the three-mile rural single-track route past Deli Farm is safe to walk, and the children who are starting in September will not be eligible for free school transport. 

Cllr Fairman (Liberal Democrat) said: “This is very disappointing for the new parents concerned but I am pleased to say that they are receiving the full support of both the parents who fought last time and the parish council. 

“My interpretation of the Ombudsman’s report is that it clearly shows that as well as the obvious flaws in the appeal process last time, there are also areas of policy that are not compliant with the national guidance. Issues such as having to walk the route in darkness in the winter and what extent working parents can reasonably be expected accompany children for four hours a day need to be considered with a greater emphasis on common sense.

“Narrow, unlit, rural roads are not safe for any pedestrians in the dark and the lack of places to stand clear of approaching traffic means that the early start time of Camelford School makes this route wholly unsafe during the winter months.” 

There are currently at least nine children who have been refused passes to date and parents will begin the two-stage appeal process this month which will ultimately be adjudicated by an appeal panel made up of three Cornwall councillors. 

Responsibility for school’s transport has recently been moved from the Children’s directorate to the Transport directorate under the cabinet member Councillor Geoff Brown, who comes from Newquay.

He has committed to walk the route in the autumn with the chair of the parish council and Cllr Fairman.

Meanwhile a review of the Schools Transport Policy will be undertaken this year following Cllr Fairman’s successful motion to the full council.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “Where a walking route to school has been assessed as being suitable for school pedestrian use in line with the council’s Pedestrian Route Assessment Policy, there is no entitlement to free transport, unless other eligibility criteria is met. Where requests for transport are refused, parents are informed of their right of appeal.

“In addition, where spare seats are available on vehicles contracted for school use, the parents of children who are not eligible for free transport can pay for their child to travel.”