Parents celebrate after axed bus services replaced

Campaigning parents whose children were told to use torches to walk across unlit heathland by Surrey County Council (SCC) are celebrating after it was announced that an axed school bus service would be replaced.

Earlier this year, SCC said it was saving money and cancelling the free bus service between Molesey and Esher High School, advising children to walk through dark alleyways and across countryside instead.

Initially, parents started a petition to put on an extra 814 bus service to accommodate the children with part of the £12bn transport funding granted to SCC by the government.

Parent Kate Maxwell said: "I'm thrilled they've seen sense but it could have been handled so much differently.

"This whole process has been so stressful on everyone involved, the parents, children, and schools, and for what?"

In a letter to parents, Esher High School headteacher Andy King said the school was pleased to share that an additional 814 bus would be running as a trial from September, following "strong and sustained advocacy from our school and parent community".

The council said the extra bus would run for the first half-term of the 2025/26 academic year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

After that, demand will be analysed to see if the service continues, said SCC.

Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at SCC, said: "We're very aware of the challenges raised by parents and carers and have worked with Falcon to address these.

"As with all bus services, we need to ensure they are used to make them viable, so I encourage parents and carers to take up this new provision.

"This additional bus is being provided by Falcon at no cost to Surrey County Council."

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