A CONCERNED school community is calling for a coach company to put its faith in a bus service to Chester Catholic High School as it plans to drop the service.

Shocked parents were told that GHA Coaches planned to terminate the number 34 school route through Vicar’s Cross, Hoole, Newton and Upton because it isn’t viable, despite only taking on the service in May.

Councillors acted swiftly to win a month’s reprieve from plans to cancel the service at a behind-closed-doors meeting on Friday between the school and GHA.

Headteacher John Murray said: “My concern isn’t so much about whether it’s GHA Coaches or any other operators running the service, it’s about making sure children can get safely from Upton and Hoole over to the school.

“The bus system has all changed but parents still expect there will be a school bus to get their children to school.

“There’s a knock-on effect for us and the other schools.

“If parents send their children to elsewhere, whether it’s Upton, Neston or Frodsham, we end up with spare spaces here, places which go to local children meaning Queen’s Park High School and St David’s High School end up down on their numbers.”

Upton parent Tracy Craig, whose daughter started at the Handbridge school in September, faces an anxious wait to find out if the service will continue after the October half term.

“For parents it’s so reassuring to know they have got to school and they have been dropped off right at the door,” she said.

“The children get used to using it on their own, it’s a first step toward independence.

“There’s standing room only by the time it gets to the last few stops. It seems ridiculous that this isn’t considered a viable service.

“I know many parents who are keen to send their children to the Catholic High School, but if there wasn’t a bus, they might be forced to reconsider, possibly placing pressure upon other local schools.

“We need a long-term solution – not left in a position where bus companies could stop the service at short notice or put up prices to an unaffordable level, or we’ll be in the same situation again.”

Wrexham-based GHA coaches took over the service from First, who themselves stopped running the route for “commercial reasons” earlier this year.

“The 34 hasn’t paid its way so we notified the council and the traffic commissioner giving them 56 days notice, meaning it would be terminated on September 24,” said GHA Coaches operations manager Stuart Hyslop.

He added: “We run buses to make a profit. The parents are seeking a long-term commitment, one lady said she had another daughter to go to the school next September, but I can’t see that far in advance.

“We will operate until half term, it’s our decision in the end.”

CWAC Cllr Adrian Walmsley, who chaired Friday’s meeting at the HQ, said: “The talks involved the Catholic High School, GHA Coaches and local ward councillors representing Vicars Cross, Hoole, Newton, Upton and Boughton Heath.

“The bus service involved will now continue to run until the half-term break at the existing fares while discussions with all parties will continue to try and achieve a long-term sustainable solution.

“The school has made arrangements to notify parents whose children use this route.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council spokesperson Shirley Wingfield said: “This is a commercial service and we understand the company will reassess the situation at the half-term break.

“We are monitoring the situation.”