PARENTS say their children's safety could be put at risk by a council decision to withdraw free transport to a town school.

Andy Williams, of Cefn Road, Bwlchgwyn, is due to send his son Ethan to Ysgol Clywedog in September 2018.

The council’s policy on school transport states that children are entitled to free transport to their closest high school if it is over three miles away.

Residents of Bwlchgwyn who will be going into Year 7 in September will no longer be entitled to free transport to Ysgol Clywedog as Wrexham Council have deemed Ysgol Bryn Alyn in Gwersyllt to be their nearest school by 0.2 miles.

Mr Williams says a growing number of parents dispute this and are worried about how their children will safely travel to school.

He said: “According to their policy, the route to calculate the distance has to be a safe route.

“I don't believe the route they've used to Bryn Alyn is safe as there is no footpath for over one mile of it.

“The council originally agreed with this, but they have since changed their minds.

“If they used a safe route then Clywedog would indeed be closer.”

Pupils who currently receive free transport to Ysgol Clywedog and live in Bwlchgwyn will continue to receive it.

Mr Williams says that this is unfair against Year 7 pupils and he does not think that the policy is consistent.

He added: “Children who live in Coedpoeth and who will be attending Clywedog will receive free transport despite not living over three miles from the school. How can this be?”

The primary school in Bwlchgwyn is a feeder school for Ysgol Clywedog and Mr Williams believes that the lack of free transport will cause a negative impact.

He said: “The fact that transport will now not be given, but would be provided to Bryn Alyn, may well influence some parents’ secondary school choice.

“This would have a detrimental impact on pupil numbers for Clywedog and split the local Bwlchgwyn/ Coedpoeth community.

“Children who live in Gwynfryn will also be entitled to free transport to Clywedog, meaning the coach picking them up will still come through the village of Bwlchgwyn, yet it won’t be able to pick up our children.”

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We are aware that concerns have been raised in respect of an aspect of the school transport policy and officers are currently looking into this matter.”

Mr Williams said that parents are pulling together to discuss pool lifts and public transport options should the decision to remove the free transport stay in place.