School transport replacement sorted for Lambourn, Kintbury and Inkpen

Replacement school transport has been arranged after parents in the Lambourn Valley hit out at West Berkshire Council claiming they were given almost no notice of school bus service cancellations for the new term.

The contracted suppliers pulled out late in the summer, claiming fuel costs were too high to make it viable.

The portfolio holder for highways, housing and sustainable travel, Denise Gaines (Lib Dem, Hungerford and Kintbury) told a Hungerford Town Council meeting in September: “A couple of transport providers pulled out in the second or third week of August; they left us high and dry, with no providers.”

A replacement service to both John O’Gaunt and King Alfred's schools was due to start today (Monday, October 30).

West Berkshire Council says Weaveaway Travel will cover Great Shefford, Inkpen and Kintbury, and says emails have been sent to all families using the service along with bus passes being sent out next week.

Another service run by Newbury and District starts tomorrow (Tuesday) and will serve Lambourn and Upper Lambourn. The council says passes have been posted.