School concern over bus changes

6:51pm Tuesday 8th January 2008

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CHANGES are set to be made to four council-run bus services as part of cost-cutting measures.

Blackburn with Darwen council plans to merge two services and review the viability of two more as part of efficiency savings.

The council wants to merge the 800 and 900 services, a move that will save £18,000 a year.

The services take children from the Larkhill area to St Francis, Feniscowles and St Peter's primary schools.

The average number of passengers on the 800 is 10.8 per day, while on the 900 it is just 2.8.

Ron O'Keefe, who is a governor at St Peter's, said: "I am concerned as a school governor.

"If they start cutting down on bus services it's going against a policy to prevent parents from taking children to school by car."

Buses 845, from Whalley Range to Longshaw primary school, and 850, from Seven Trees to Lammack and Roe Lee primary schools, are to have their long-term future reviewed.

As part of the same review, the 969 bus, which takes children from Highercroft to Darwen Vale High School, is set to be axed, a move that will save the council £22,000 a year.

In 2002 there were widespread protests against the previous Labour administration's plans to axe 17 routes.

Most of the routes were saved following the outcry.