ABOUT 150 parents and children took part in a protest walk this week to highlight the dangers of scrapping a secondary school bus service.

West Berkshire Council is threatening to axe the free service between Mortimer and Willink School in Burghfield from April 2016 in order to save £123,500 from its £1.6 million annual schools transport budget.

At present, 233 pupils living in Mortimer are eligible to use the service, which WBC must provide as there is no pavement or walkway on the two-mile route between the village and school.

However, the council is now suggesting that an alternative route through dense woodland that forces children to cross the 60mph Goring Lane and Hollybush Lane, where there is no crossing or pavement, is a viable option – even though the same route was deemed unsafe two years ago.

Parents in Mortimer are now accusing WBC of neglecting the safety of their children and they have organised a petition and launched a Save Our Buses Facebook page.

They also walked the proposed route on Monday morning to highlight their concerns.

Parent Hamish Blackie said: “Aside from the long walk in dense woodland that I wouldn’t want my daughters to negotiate in the fading winter light, the traffic chaos as we negotiated Goring Lane was horrendous.

“We all crossed together, but when parents and children are crossing in dribs and drabs in the rush-hour the risk of a serious accident is too high.

“The council’s proposed route puts lives at risk in my opinion.

“They are clearly failing in their duty to safeguard our children by suggesting this option.”

John Harris added: “Seeing Hollybush Lane gridlocked with no room for either children or cars to move was shocking. There is a significant risk of an accident.”

Kathryn Ross stated: “Crossing Goring Lane was a sight to behold.

“There was a queue of traffic backing up in all directions and a long line of children walking past the scout hall. It’s crazy.”

Monday’s protest was screened by BBC South television and parent Kathy Martin added: “I can only imagine how confusing the woods could be to children and the state the path will be in once it is trodden on by hundreds of pupils each day.”

WBC says it will respond to parents directly through its consultation process.

A public meeting between representatives of Willink School, West Berkshire Council and parents is due to take place on Monday.

The council’s executive member for education, Dominic Boeck, said: “Council officers make an assessment of all available routes, and their assessments are made in line with national guidelines.

"They will have assessed it is reasonably safe – that’s what the legislation calls for.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Leave a comment below?