Angry parents have hit out at plans to slash school buses across Wokingham – starting from September this year.

Wokingham Borough Council says it is considering removing fare paying bus passes for post-16 pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

It also wants to make changes to other areas of its support, including getting rid of discounts for low income families who pay for school buses, and tightening eligibility rules. A consultation on the changes ended last Friday, July 21.

Michelle, whose son goes to Addington special education school in Woodley, says the plans would deprive him of the minibus he needs to get there after he turns 16.

She said: “He’s got a rare chromosome disorder, which means he has severe learning and physical disabilities. But he’s a really happy child and he loves school.

“Addington school is amazing. They’ve got fantastic facilities we can’t get anywhere else.” But she added that, if the changes come in, her son wouldn’t be able to travel the three miles to the school to continue on into post-16 education.

“It would be continuing to focus on life skills – being able to be more independent, being able to communicate his needs and explore the world around him more safely," she said. "But if these proposals go through this transport will just stop.

“The council is providing this amazing education but suddenly wants to cut access.”

Meanwhile, parent Darren Houldcroft says parents are already struggling to find spaces for their children on buses. His third child has been denied a seat on a bus to Emmsbrook school, where his two older children already go.

He said: “We got an email saying our child has not been accepted. And I started getting messages from parents of children, and I’ve seen messages on Facebook and WhatsApp groups who also haven’t got places.

“In previous years if they had enough to justify running a second coach they’d put on another for the fare payers.”

READ MORE: School bus passes under threat in Wokingham council review

Councillor Prue Brae, who is responsible for children’s services, said financial pressures on the council meant it had to make cuts.

She said: “Demand for travel assistance has increased from £3 million in 2018/19 to £5.8 million in 2022/23 – an increase of around 93 per cent - and is still rising.

“We know that this proposed change was unlikely to be welcomed by all, but for many years we have been offering a service well over and above what was required.”

She added that students aged 16-19 could be offered a “personal transport budget” – but that applications would still be looked at “on a case by case basis” to see if other assistance is needed.

Council staff will now look at responses to the consultation and make a recommendation to the leading Executive committee before September.