CHESHIRE East Council is set to axe free school transport for almost 400 children, including schools in Nantwich.

The council's Cabinet has decided that five walking routes to schools are now available to be used by pupils – and that free school transport will be withdrawn for some students from next April.

The decision follows a review of routes that takes into account improvements to the highways, footpaths and public rights of way – which will now form available walking routes to schools.

The review will affect five schools in the first phase, including Brine Leas School, Wheelock Primary School and Malbank School and 6th Form College. About 380 pupils will be affected by the change.

Cabinet also agreed to use £150,000 from the Government’s Local Transport Plan Fund to improve further routes to schools over the next few years, bringing them up to standard and enabling more pupils to walk to school.

The moves would also deliver council savings of about £495,000 by 2019.

“The decision means the council is applying its own policies more consistently and fairly by providing free transport only to those who are eligible,” said a council spokesman.

“For all other pupils it remains a parental responsibility to ensure that children and young people get to school safely.”

Under the council’s ‘Available Walking Routes’ policy, free transport is provided to primary school pupils who would have to walk more than two miles to school and to secondary school pupils who would have to walk more than three miles. This provision remains unaffected by the Cabinet decision.

Cllr Liz Durham said: “On the grounds of fairness to all parents and pupils, these measures are the right thing to do.

“While it will undoubtedly prove unpopular with the people affected, this decision is about fairly applying an existing policy, now that these walking routes have been made available.”

Cllr George Hayes said: “To ensure parents and schools are aware of these changes, we have already communicated with the relevant local ward members and head teachers and contact will be made directly with the parents of pupils who will be affected by this decision.

“All of this will be happening before the summer break and well in advance of the April 2017 implementation date.”

A total of 1,152 Cheshire East students receive home-to-school transport because no walking route is available, which represents 35 per cent of children entitled to transport provision.