Parents concerned about cuts to bus services which could leave children unable to get to school are being urged to register their views.

City of York Council announced the intention to cut or alter its subsidised bus routes last month to save £350,000, and the public consultation is due to finish tomorrow.

Services affected are Monday to Saturday daytime services 12, 19, 20, 27, 36, 627, 637 and 647, evening services 10, 11, 14, 18 and Sunday services 11, 12, 13, 14,16a and 19.

Glenda Saint John, whose daughter attends Joseph Rowntree School, said cutting the number 20 bus would mean more than 40 children would be left without a route to school.

She said many people were not aware of the consultation and urged anyone affected to email their views to the council.

Miss Saint John, of Appletree Village, said: "My concern is that the consultation to put forward any objections ends on Friday and I only just found out about it last week. This has been kept very, very quiet and I feel it is important to get the word out so that parents affected can voice their concerns.

"This decision goes against the council's policy of open application to all secondary schools as it will mean families in specific parts of the city will only be able to apply to their catchment school if this part of the transport infrastructure is removed. This is discriminatory and potentially limiting the educational choice and life chances of young people in our city."

Eighty per cent of bus services are commercial in York and are not subsidised by the council.

Andrew Bradley, sustainable transport manager at the council, said the authority was working with bus operators to identify journeys which might be provided commercially or at a low cost to the council, to mitigate against the loss of council-subsidised bus services.

"The council is open to working with any partners or stakeholders who are able to identify affordable, sustainable solutions to the budgetary pressures the council currently faces in this area."

The consultation is open until tomorrow, Friday 6 May, and can be found on the council’s website or on request from West Offices.

After considering the responses, Cllr Ian Gillies, the executive member for transport and planning, will decide which bus services should be withdrawn or modified at his meeting on June 2 "to make the necessary £350,000 saving agreed in the council’s budget for the next two financial years".

It is anticipated the changes will take effect from August 28.

Opinions can be emailed to buses@york.gov.uk. The deadline is tomorrow.