Footage reveals stark differences in road conditions for school transport routes
North Yorkshire: Recently, the School Transport Action Group (STAG) released two videos showing the snowy conditions on potential bus routes for students. This group formed after North Yorkshire Council decided to limit free school transport to only the nearest school, which has stirred up quite a bit of concern.
In the videos, taken on December 22, you can really see how different the road conditions are. The lower levels look much better compared to the higher routes in the Dales. STAG pointed out that sending kids to Richmond School has always made sense, especially since it’s been the norm for years.
One spokesperson from STAG mentioned that it’s not about resisting change; it’s about respecting the land and weather. They believe that the current system works well and should stay as is.
They also shared clips showing the road to Richmond and the one leading to Kirkby Stephen. The council’s new rules mean some kids might have to go to schools outside their community to get free transport, which raises safety concerns about navigating those tricky, high roads.
The video from the higher ground was filmed on the B6270 towards Kirkby Stephen, while the lower ground clip was taken in the valley heading to Richmond. Interestingly, a photo from the higher route showed that the road was gritted on the Cumbria side but not on the North Yorkshire side.
In response to these worries, Amanda Newbold from North Yorkshire Council acknowledged the concerns of parents. She explained that parents will find out about their child’s school placement on National Offer Day, which is set for March 3, 2025, for secondary students and April 16, 2025, for primary students.
After that, the council will assess which children qualify for transport assistance. They’ll figure out if existing bus contracts can accommodate these kids or if new routes need to be created. New routes won’t be set up until the admissions process is wrapped up, and any new routes will undergo risk assessments with operators.
