PARENTS in Ryedale have said they are facing a second blow from North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) over the use of a school bus.

In February, a group of parents launched Save our Buses (SOB), a campaign to fight for their children to take spare seats on buses going to Ryedale School.

The group said they were happy to pay for the empty seats and argued this was a better option for their children and the environment.

Last month NYCC declared the spare capacity on the buses would be made available to out of catchment children, only to announce a week later that the size of the bus has been slashed, making it impossible for the children to use the bus.

Ryedale District Cllr Steve Mason said: “NYCC had a real opportunity to support our residents in Ryedale, and they blew it. To announce that normal services were to resume and then proceed to cut the bus capacity is heartless - parents feel duped by the county council. This is a prime example of cuts via the back door.

“We will continue to lobby for the bus capacity to be increased again on this route and on other journeys where there is demand.”

Ian Fielding, NYCC’s assistant director of transport, waste and countryside services, said: “We would like all our home-to-school transport vehicles to be available to everyone who wants to use them, but it is simply not affordable given the current pressures on council budgets.

“Where we have spare seats on services, we can then make those seats available to pupils not entitled to free home to school. We understand this may cause inconvenience for parents and pupils, but the permits are issued with a clear understanding they could be withdrawn at any time if no spare seats are available, including a letter and attached terms of conditions which highlight the permits can be withdrawn.”