HEADTEACHERS have raised strong objections over plans to axe vital bus services for their pupils.

The heads of Roe Lee Park Primary School, and Feniscowles Primary School, both in Blackburn, fear the cuts will eradicate diversity and they will lose existing and future pupils which will result in funding reductions.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has proposed to withdraw funding for three of its ‘socially necessary’ bus services over a phased period from 2012 to 2018 following a review.

Plans have been put forward, for approval by the council’s executive board on Thursday, to stop the subsidised number 800 for Feniscowles and St Francis Primary Schools, the number 845 that covers Longshaw infant and junior schools and the 850 which serves Lammack and Roe Lee primary schools.

Council bosses said the move would have help money from the £65,000 pot that covers the cost of the discretionary transport to the borough’s schools.

But they said the cuts were justifiable as the demographics in those areas had changed.

In a letter on behalf of the governing body Roe Lee Park Primary School headteacher, Mark Geldard said: “We don’t think that the decision has been properly thought through and there does not seem to have been and assessment of the wide ranging impact that stopping your service could have on our school community.”

Elizabeth Hargreaves, head of Feniscowles Primary School added: “Blackburn with Darwen is a multi-cultural society.

"It is unhealthy for us to have schools which do not reflect this.”

Last month the council approved recommendations to increase fares and axe free bus pass unless pupils attended the nearest school that was more than two miles away to faith schools.