School buses could be replaced by walking buses in Congleton, according to a latest council debate.

Cheshire East is to look again at safe walking routes and possibly axing some school bus services.

The matter was raised at Monday's meeting of the children and families committee during an update report on school transport and the council's plans to transfer the functions of its wholly owned company, Transport Service Solutions (TSS) back to Cheshire East Council.

Conservative group leader Janet Clowes (Wybunbury) said: "I just wondered where we were up to with our walking routes to school.

"Obviously, I have a parochial interest in that I was hoping to be able to get rid of school buses from certain parts of my ward if a safe walking route to school could be finalised."

Mark Bayley, head of service for education infrastructure and outcomes at the council, said: "Totally agree that we need to look at those safer walking routes and I suppose this is part of that active travel plan that really we should be looking at.

"What we are working on very much with schools is to develop and update their school travel plans, which very much should be looking at bikeability schemes and walking opportunities within that."

Cllr Clowes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, that the proposed walking route she had been referring to in her ward was from Wychwood Village to Weston Village.

"To do that the route needs to be evaluated for safety and the public right of way would need to be re-directed" she told the LDRS. "But it was something that was built into the original plans but it's never actually been brought into being."

The report also informed the committee that, as a result of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the requirements for social distancing had been removed on school buses, as had the additional funding which had enabled the council to reduce the number of pupils on school transport vehicles.

A Congleton councillor also weighted in, regarding the changes in transport brought upon by the pandemic.

Cllr George Hayes (Congleton West, Con) asked whether the increase in Covid cases across the borough was having a knock-on effect 'in terms of increased anxieties or school refusal, for people who now no longer have the shadow bus or the alternative mode of transport, because that support's been transitioned out already'.

Mr Bayley said there hadn't, as yet, been any need to put on additional buses where there had been an outbreak.

"Where there has been localised higher rates, many parents have taken decisions themselves to transport pupils to avoid the challenges of transport and that's to be applauded," he said, although he added it did bring in other pressures like drop-offs.

What wasn't mentioned was whether this move towards walking has been considered amid the backdrop of COP26.

Cheshire East have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025, which is just 37 short months away.

By removing their bus services, there will be less emission vehicles under the council's remit.

We have contacted Cheshire East Council for further comment about the possibility of the considered cuts being considered to help the environment.

Taking out school bus services will also allow Cheshire East to spend the money elsewhere.

No specific services were targeted for termination during the debate.

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