PARENTS will boycott a school bus when term starts on Thursday in protest at new transport arrangements they claim are unsafe.

Children from Castleton have been selected by North Yorkshire County Council to travel to schools in Whitby by bus, after Arriva announced plans to refurbish trains on the Esk Valley line, reducing the number of seats from 200 to 150.

The county's school transport policy states all children must have a seat on school transport.

With 50 children from Castleton travelling on the train, and because of the shortfall in seats, the council decided they should be the ones to go by bus.

However, parents are furious at the lack of consultation and feel a bus is not a safe way of getting their children to school.

This week 30 parents again met in Castleton and decided to boycott the bus on Thursday, and send their children by train.

Sally Sansom, who has three children attending schools in Whitby, explained: "On the first day back we'll send the kids on the train, as ordinary paying customers, and hopefully the coach will be empty.

"We will send the children on the coach after that, because some parents just can't afford to pay for their children to go on the train as ordinary paying customers every day.

"I think it's about £2.20 per child, per day, but if you have three children it adds up.

"We will continue to lobby North Yorkshire to let us use the bus passes on the train, as we still feel the train is the safest option, even if they have to stand."

The parents also agreed to lobby MP Laurie Quinn, the county council cabinet member for transport, and the Rail Passenger's Committee, to put pressure on Arriva to provide an extra car and enough seats for all the children.

This week North Yorkshire County Council sent out questionnaires to parents.

Ginny Nevin, county operations manager said: "We want to find out what all parents of children using the Esk Valley line think about children using the train and not having enough seats.

"We are going to send the bus to collect the children from Castleton for the first half term to give us opportunity to consult with parents.

"Safety for the children is our first priority and we don't want to do something that will jeopardise their safety on the train."

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