Kirkburton girl’s bus pass battle with Kirklees Council

May 15 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“Kirklees must adhere to the Government guidelines. The route that they have given me – which they would expect my daughter to walk `accompanied as necessary' – takes in a bridle path which is unlit and surrounded by fields.”

Kirklees Council's school transport policy states that it usually provides free home to school transport “if the school is the one which Kirklees regards as serving the area in which the pupil lives, or is the nearest school, and the journey is over three miles’’.

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said that the council's policy “follows guidelines set by the Government by only offering transport to pupils who live more than three miles from school’’

He added: “We adhere to all legal requirements and, in this case, the route has been measured precisely and falls short of three miles.

“Although part of the route does not use a Tarmac road, it is important to remember Kirklees has many rural areas. This means routes regularly include footpaths or tracks.

“All applicants for transport have the right of appeal if they are unsuccessful, but we have not received any appeals in this instance.”