Parents are in uproar after their county council scrapped their children's free bus passes and told them to walk across an unguarded railway line to school instead.
Families in South Nutfield, Surrey, whose children attend Carrington School in Redhill, have been told that a 10-km round trip through open fields and over train tracks to be a "safe walking route."
The route, which includes crossing an embankment over a railway line used by freight trains, has been labelled "just plain dangerous" by concerned parents.
Joe Massey, a local parent, tested the route himself - and found it took an hour to complete.
'There's no way in hell you'd send your child on that route,' Joe Massey raged (file photo)
PA
"There's no way in hell you'd send your child on that route," he said.
"We just feel let down and the option they've given us is just unbelievable."
"A big chunk of it is cross country through cow fields and rail roads with no bridge. It's just open tracks," Massey explained.
"We did the walk, there's a cow field... You're wading through mud!"
The council's official route instructions, unearthed by SurreyLive, detail the crossing of an "open crossing with no gates, barriers, attendant or traffic lights."
MORE COUNCIL OUTRAGE:
Surrey County Council have told children to walk across muddy fields and open train lines
Officials claim the railway line is safe due to "long, straight and clear" sightlines, with approximately two trains per hour plus occasional freight trains.
The instructions warn students about muddy conditions, and read: "The public right of way continues across a farmer's field which it can be muddy with surface water, occasionally liable to flooding."
Parents are advised their children should wear "appropriate footwear" after wet weather and that "children should be accompanied as necessary."
But Massey has fumed at the situation, saying: "Obviously the money is a big thing but it's the principle.
Parents at Carrington School in Redhill can still fork out over £800 for a bus pass for their children
"To then expect your child to walk for an hour, they're going to be exhausted."
Clare Curran, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for children, defended the decision, pointing to how "safety of route assessments are carried out in line with Road Safety GB guidelines".
She also noted the current bus passes cost the council £881 per year per pupil, adding: "Amidst a set of challenging financial circumstances, the council is not in the position to continue to pay for transport for families where they are no longer eligible."
The council has insisted the railway route has passed health and safety checks (file photo)
PA
The council emphasised that families are not being forced to use the walking route, with the option to purchase bus passes directly from operators still available.
"The council is not prescribing that children should walk to school via the safe route that has been established; the option is still available to use the bus service," Curran said.
Parents have been informed they can appeal against the decision to withdraw travel assistance through a stage one safety of route appeal form, with links provided in their initial correspondence.
