A councillor has clarified that children travelling to school in North Yorkshire are 'safe' and risk assessments are undertaken following concerns that journeys to schools are done on 'treacherous' routes.

The new North Yorkshire Council policy, agreed in July, restricts free home-to-school transport to those attending the nearest school.

But it means some pupils from the Yorkshire Dales could have to travel to schools over 45 minutes away, or in another county, due to the nearest school being identified through a digital tool that could be rolled out by the council.

Pupils at a schoolPupils at a school (Image: PA MEDIA) The digital tool, which hasn't yet been fully implemented, currently uses the shortest route by road, irrespective of the nature or type of road, or its feasibility as a school transport route.

Concerns about the digital tool have been raised by parents and headteachers across the Richmondshire area since it was first discussed.

Headteacher of Reeth and Gunnerside Primary Schools, previously raised concerns about how children could be travelling on a school transport on 'unsuitable routes'.

Similar issues have been issued by parents - who believe that travelling select routes in the winter could be 'treacherous' and urged for a 'rethink' of the digital tool before it was fully rolled out.

A school busA school bus (Image: PA MEDIA) But these concerns have now been answered during the North Yorkshire Council Richmond (Yorks) Area Committee on Wednesday (October 23) - where Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, who covers the Morton-on-Swale & Appleton Wiske division, read out a statement about the transport tool.

Cllr Wilkinson, who has been tasked with liaising with parents, schools and transport officers at North Yorkshire Council, reiterated that the council wasn't responsible for admissions and where children go to school, which is down to the parent's choices.

"The tool is accurate, with reports of children going to schools outside the county. With such rural locations and a sprawling county, this is to be expected," Cllr Wilkinson told the meeting.

"We run 600 routes to schools in North Yorkshire, which have been successful year after year.

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"No new routes are expected moving forward, but that could always change."

Cllr Wilkinson added that risk assessments are carried out on every route the council runs, including any new routes that could be adopted, which uses 'local knowledge' from officers and councillors.

It was confirmed at the meeting that further discussions and research would be done about the digital school transport tool and that Cllr Wilkinson would update the committee in the future.