Today Mark have written to Cllr Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, to ask him to rethink the Council's decision to cut school bus services for pupils at Charlton School and Holy Trinity Academy in Telford.

Mark has received messages from residents who are disappointed by what they describe as the Council's "lack of communication and lateness of the information being shared."

The Council is trying to blame the decision on central government funding. In reality, this is not a financial decision taken in Westminster but a political decision taken in Telford. Funding has been taken from dedicated home-to-school transport services by Telford & Wrekin Council and used to fund other bus routes.

The Government has actually increased the Council's funding for home-to-school transport for low income families - up by a massive 67 per cent since 2020.

Mark has asked Cllr Davies to confirm that:

1. The public bus services to be used by pupils attending Charlton School and Holy Trinity Academy will pick up and drop off pupils in the same places and at the same times as the school buses did.

2. A safeguarding audit has been conducted to ensure the safety of the younger children on public bus services.

3. No schools other than Charlton School and Holy Trinity Academy have had their school bus service cut.