ANGRY parents in Copmanthorpe are calling on City of York Council's executive to postpone a decision later today on proposals to axe their children's school bus service.

They say they are worried for their children's safety if the dedicated service to Manor CE Academy is scrapped, as pupils as young as 11 will be left unsupervised to cross busy roads in York city centre to catch connecting public services while getting to and from school.

They also claim there has been a complete lack of proper consultation and say they only found out about the plan from an article in The Press last week.

A spokesman said the changes would have a massive impact on about 20 children and their families, and there appeared to be scant regard for their health and well-being.

One of the parents, Dave Stanford, whose daughter Millie, 12, attends Manor, said: “The vast majority of parents whose children attend Manor already pay almost £400 a year per pupil as a contribution towards the running of the service.

"We would be happy to sit down and talk to the council about increasing our contributions or to explore other funding and transport arrangements, but the council seems intent on rushing this decision through without proper consultation.”

He said an officer’s report to councillors had said Rufforth would keep its dedicated bus service because there was no public bus route that could get the village’s children to Manor but he claimed there was a public bus service for the village, and questioned the 'apparent anomaly.'

Maxine Squire, assistant director education and skills, said the council's cabinet decided in September 2012 that from September 2013, transport for pupils attending denominational schools would be withdrawn but members agreed it would continue to be provided for pupils already eligible for assistance on the grounds of low income.

"For secondary school pupils, this would be until July 2017 and the schools affected were reminded of this in February this year," she said.

"A number of denominational schools in York have, with parental support, put unsubsidised transport arrangements in place where there is demand and we can advise Manor about supporting these remaining 11 students from Copmanthorpe in this way.

"While it is the parent or carer’s duty to ensure children get to and from school safely, we continue to promote pedestrian and cycling safety at primary and secondary schools and offer advice at http://www.itravelyork.info/.”