A Green Party councillor has urged council bosses to save school buses at two district schools.
On Tuesday, Bradford Council launched a consultation on proposals to withdraw the routes to St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic Collage and Bingley Grammar School from September 2025.
But at a Council meeting, Councillor Matt Edwards, the Leader of the Green Group on Bradford Council challenged council bosses on this decision.
In particular, Councillor Edwards questioned the wording of the report which suggested that: “The existence of these services has enabled parents, in many instances, to choose a particular school that is not their local one.” [Watch on Facebook]
Speaking after the meeting of The Executive, Councillor Edwards said:
“I really didn’t appreciate the language in the report. For many parents, sending their children to Catholic school isn’t a choice. Parents and guardians in the area I represent tell me that they send their children to St Bede’s and St Joseph’s because they want their children to have a Catholic education. The council’s own policy on School transport claims to respect religious belief but if that is the case how could this even be on the table?
“There used to be other Catholic secondary school in Bradford but when the Yorkshire Martyr’s School off Westgate Hill Street was closed, parents were told that school buses would be available for their children. But now the Council is back peddling on this promise.
“Parents living in Bierley and Holmewood tell me that the school buses are full so if these services are withdrawn, this is going to force parents to drive their children to school which is going to add to the horrendous congestion there already is in Manningham and Heaton. Many other schools are oversubscribed so this isn’t quite as easy as just changing school if driving children to school isn’t viable.
“No one is in any doubt about the financial situation Labour has left our council in. But Green councillors are going to be pushing Council officers and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to look for other ways to fund these bus services.”
A petition against the decision has been signed by over 2,500 people. Councillor Edwards also encouraged parents to take part in the official consultation.