Demise of faith school transport

[knutstransport]

Demise of faith school transport
A few years ago the two Cheshire councils withdrew subsides for faith school transport, which resulted in services having to run commercially.

15 years ago the bus routes serving St Nicholas High School (Hartford, Cheshire) were:
Winsford area 1 (Cheshire County Council Yellow Bus)
Winsford area 2 (Cheshire County Council Yellow Bus)
Winsford area 3 (Cheshire County Council Yellow Bus)
Winsford area 4 (Byley Coaches)
Sale area (Walkers Coaches) ** Shared with Sir John Deanes College**
Middlewich area 1 (Walkers Coaches)
Middlewich area 2 (Ravel Travel)
Knutsford area 1 (Walkers Coaches)
Knutsford area 2 (Niddries Coaches)
Frodsham via Weaverham (Walkers Coaches)
Wincham and Lostock Gralam area (Ravel Travel)
Tarvin and Tarporley area (Walkers Coaches)
Lach Dennis via Rudheath (Warrington Borough Transport)
Barnton area (Dobsons) ** Shared with Hartford High School**
Cuddington area (Selwyns)
Davenham, Moulton and Kingsmead (Dobsons)
Holmes Chapel and Sandbach area (Coppenhalls Coaches)
Plus minibus services to other areas, including one for the Crewe area primarily for Sixth Formers with the Catholic High School in Crewe not having a Sixth Form.


For the last academic year the bus routes were:
Winsford via Wharton (Walkers Coaches)
Winsford via Whitegate (Walkers Coaches)
Appleton, Stretton, Pickmere, Wincham (Walkers Coaches)
Helsby, Frodsham, Kingsley, Crowton, Acton Bridge (GHA Coaches)
Chelford, Knutsford, Kingsmead (GHA Coaches)
Bostock, Moulton, Davenham (GHA Coaches)
Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Middlewich, Rudheath (Barratts)
Middlewich (Barratts)
Barnton, Weaverham, Norley, Cuddington, Sandiway (Barratts)
Tarporley, Tarvin, Manley, Willington, Little Budworth (School Minibus)


For the coming academic year the bus routes will be:
SN25 Winsford via Wharton (Walkers Coaches)
SN15 Winsford via Whitegate (Walkers Coaches)
494 Appleton, Stretton, Pickmere, Wincham (Walkers Coaches)
XXX Helsby, Frodsham, Kingsley, Crowton, Acton Bridge (GHA Coaches)
SN35 Knutsford, Moulton, Davenham, Kingsmead (Walkers Coaches)
BA321 Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Middlewich, Rudheath (Barratts)
BA322 Middlewich (Barratts)


With the school still continuing to be oversubscribed it seems more and more school children are using alternatives to school buses, such as regular buses, trains and cars.