Council Forced to Halt Controversial School Transport Consultation
Warwickshire County Council has been compelled to temporarily suspend its public consultation on proposed cuts to home-to-school transport services. The local authority confirmed the pause this week, acknowledging that a quality assurance step was missed before the consultation went live.
The council's Reform UK-led cabinet had agreed last month to launch the consultation, which proposes "significant changes" to align current eligibility criteria with national minimum standards. This strategic move aims to reduce spiralling costs that have seen the annual transport bill explode from £17.2 million to over £50 million in just seven years.
Widespread Impact on Families
According to the council's own assessment, the proposed changes could affect more than 1,000 children across Warwickshire. The consultation disappearance from the council's Ask Warwickshire portal initially caused confusion, though officials attributed this to administrative oversight rather than policy changes.
Councillor George Finch, the Reform UK leader for Bedworth Central, had previously highlighted the potential scale of impact in an open letter published during October's half-term break. His communication suggested that up to 16% of children could lose their transport eligibility if distance thresholds were increased.
Currently, children aged eight and above qualify for assistance if they live three miles from their nearest available school. Cllr Finch's letter indicated this could potentially rise to five miles one way under some considerations.
Council Commits to Full Consultation Process
In an official statement, the council apologised for the delay while emphasising that the proposed options remain unchanged. "The council has temporarily paused the engagement process to allow time for a final quality assurance review," the statement read.
The authority confirmed that when the consultation reopens, residents will still have the full seven weeks to submit their responses. Those who have already participated will not need to resubmit their contributions.
The council concluded: "This short pause does not affect our commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to share their views." The situation continues to develop as families and councillors await the consultation's return and scrutinise the potential impact of the cost-cutting measures.
